It's been a banner year for Bob Dylan, whose Rough and Rowdy Ways LP earned a perfect 10 and a place on our Best Albums of 2020 list (along with having one of the year's worst album covers). Now, the legendary songwriter is closing things out with a multi-million dollar publishing deal.
According to the New York Times, Dylan has sold his entire catalogue to Universal Music Publishing. That's over 600 songs in a deal that was reportedly worth over $300 million USD.
"Brilliant and moving, inspiring and beautiful, insightful and provocative, his songs are timeless — whether they were written more than half a century ago or yesterday," Lucian Grainge, Universal Music Group CEO, said in a statement. "I have no doubt that decades, even centuries from now, the words and music of Bob Dylan will continue to be sung and played — and cherished — everywhere."
The sale also includes the Band's 1968 hit "The Weight," which is the only song Dylan owns the rights to despite not writing it. That song was written by Robbie Robertson.
Should Dylan choose to pen a few more classics in his life, he'll have the opportunity to do what he wants with the publishing as the Universal deal only covers his recordings up until now.
According to the New York Times, Dylan has sold his entire catalogue to Universal Music Publishing. That's over 600 songs in a deal that was reportedly worth over $300 million USD.
"Brilliant and moving, inspiring and beautiful, insightful and provocative, his songs are timeless — whether they were written more than half a century ago or yesterday," Lucian Grainge, Universal Music Group CEO, said in a statement. "I have no doubt that decades, even centuries from now, the words and music of Bob Dylan will continue to be sung and played — and cherished — everywhere."
The sale also includes the Band's 1968 hit "The Weight," which is the only song Dylan owns the rights to despite not writing it. That song was written by Robbie Robertson.
Should Dylan choose to pen a few more classics in his life, he'll have the opportunity to do what he wants with the publishing as the Universal deal only covers his recordings up until now.