The Berlin-based music rights group announced Nov. 30 that it acquired the rock band’s entire catalog of songs, spanning nine studio albums over its 40-year career. Variety first reported the price of the sale although other sources have cited a significantly lower number.
BMG indicated that the deal is its largest single catalog acquisition since the company was founded in 2008. Prior to this, Mötley Crüe owned its catalog since longtime manager Allen Kovac helped the band regain control from record label Elektra Records as part of a contract renegotiation in the 1990s.
“This is more than just a significant transaction,” said BMG CEO Hartwig Masuch in a statement. “Few bands understand the myth and the magic of rock like Mötley Crüe do. I am delighted that Mötley Crüe have decided BMG will be the best custodians of their musical career.”
The sale marks the latest high-priced transaction of music catalog rights, which have occurred more frequently since 2006 when the Songwriters Capital Gains Tax Equity Act was signed into law. The act was conceived to allow artists to sell their catalogs at the prevailing flat capital gains business tax rate instead of a combination of ordinary income taxe and self-employment taxe rates, which could amount to more than 40% of the income generated by the sale.
The Mötley Crüe deal follows BMG’s January acquisition for an undisclosed sum of 100% of the recorded music rights to Mick Fleetwood’s song catalog, as well as a frenzy of similar purchases by companies like Hipgnosis Songs Fund, Concord Music Group and Primary Wave. Fleetwood’s bandmate Christine McVie sold her catalog in August to Hipgnosis for an undisclosed sum while Stevie Nicks sold an 80% stake in hers to Primary Wave for $100 million. Meanwhile, their sales pale in comparison to Sony Music Publishing’s $250 million deal in April for Paul Simon’s catalog and Universal Music Publishing Group’s acquisition of more than 600 songs written by Bob Dylan for $300 million.
Though Mötley Crüe’s last full-length release of new music was 2008’s “Saints of Los Angeles,” the band maintains significant popularity among rock music fans with a North American tour to resume in 2022 after pandemic-related delays. Formed in January 1981, the group has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide.
