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List of largest music deals

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The following is a list of the largest music deals in history signed by artists, including recording contracts and multi-rights agreements with over US$50 million, as well as catalog acquisitions with a reported sum of over US$150 million.[a] Some figures might not be entirely accurate, as some multi-million-dollar contracts were reportedly misrepresented or exaggerated,[1][2][3] while others were based on media estimates. Therefore, no rankings are given.

In 1960, The Everly Brothers signed a 10-year contract with Warner Brothers Records for a deal which was reputed to be the first million-dollar contract in music history, although later accounts have reported a lower actual value.[4] The Rolling Stones' 1971 deal with Atlantic Records represented "a new benchmark in industry contracts", according to a Billboard article, becoming the largest contract ever made by that point.[5] The 1970s saw a rise in million-dollar recording contracts: Neil Diamond signed a $4–5 million deal with Columbia Records in 1972, which was superseded in 1974 by Paul McCartney's Capitol Records and Elton John's MCA Records each valued at $8 million, as well as Stevie Wonder's 1975 deal with Motown, valued at $13 million,[b] setting a new peak for the industry.[7][8] The 1980s saw more contracts of eight figures, including record-breaking Diana Ross' $20 million contract with RCA Records in 1980,[9] or the Rolling Stones with CBS Records for $28 million in 1983.[10] An increase of blockbuster deals began in the 1990s, with top-signing artists such as Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Madonna and Prince each exceeding the $40–60 million marks,[11][12] making multiple appearances in the Guinness World Records.[13] Up until 2016, only a few recording and multi-rights contracts outpaced the $100 million mark.[14]

The largest music deals belong to catalog acquisitions which include songwriting and publishing rights, with an increase in the late 2010s and early 2020s.[15][16] The Estate of Michael Jackson made the largest recording deal, for a $250 million contract starting in 2010, and renewed in 2018 for the same amount,[14][17] while Sony Music acquired the Queen catalog and a number of other rights, excluding touring revenue, for $1.27 billion, the largest sum ever paid for an artist's body of work.[18][19]

Several multi-million-sized dollar music deals attracted scrutiny, criticism or became the subject of contractual disputes,[c] including Prince's 1992 agreement with Warner Bros., which later became the subject of a contractual dispute.[20] In 1992, an editor of the Telegraph Herald criticized the large recording contracts offered to mainstream artists, commenting, "the goal wasn't to improve the music, it was to generate the most hype".[25] A contributor from Forbes described Mariah Carey's 2001 agreement with Virgin Records as "the best-known and most-cited example" that did not proceed as initially intended.[14] The New York Times reported that it marked "the first time that a major music corporation decided to cut its losses on a superstar agreement".[26]

Legend

Color
Posthumous deal

List of largest recording contracts and multi-right deals

Year Artist Music company Approx deal Notes Ref.
2022 Drake Universal Music Group $400 million Described as a "LeBron-sized" deal, the contract covered recordings, publishing, merchandise, and visual media. [27]
2017 Michael Jackson (Estate) Sony $250 million The Estate of Michael Jackson extended the 2010 deal for an additional 7 years, effective January 2018 onwards. [28]
2010 Michael Jackson (Estate) Sony $250 million Reportedly the largest recording deal; The Estate of Michael Jackson signed a $250 million contract with Sony Music, spanning 2010-2017. [29]
1993 U2 Island Records $200–100 million Undisclosed price and likely exaggerated. Included worldwide rights to six albums. [2]
2008 Jay-Z Live Nation $150 million Included seed funding for Roc Nation. [30]
2012 Lil Wayne Cash Money Records $150 million Contract extension for four albums. [31]
2016 Adele Columbia Records $130 million Originally reported by British tabloid The Sun. Undisclosed amount according to others. [14][32][33]
2002 Robbie Williams EMI Records $125 million Labeled as the largest British record deal in history. [34]
2007 Madonna Live Nation $120 million Labeled as the largest contract deal in history by a female artist. [35][24][36]
1992 Prince Warner Bros $100 million Undisclosed price.[2] [20]
1995 Michael Jackson Sony Music $100 Million Formed Sony Music Publishing. [37]
2001 Whitney Houston Arista Records $100 million Considered the largest contract in music at that point. [38]
2001 Mariah Carey Virgin Records $100–80 million Considered the largest contract in music at that point. [26][23][38]
2008 Shakira Live Nation $100–70 million 10-year, 360 deal. [39][40]
1996 R.E.M. Warner Records $80 million Considered the largest contract made by a band and in music industry at that time. [41][11]
1996 Janet Jackson Virgin Records $80–70 million Considered the largest contract in music at that point. [42][11]
2016 Harry Styles Columbia Records $80 million Sum not confirmed. [43]
2008 Nickelback Live Nation $70–50 million 360 deal. [44]
1991 Michael Jackson Sony Music $65–60–50 million[d] Considered the largest contract in music at that point.[49] [11][50][12][51]
1991 Paul McCartney Capitol Records $65 million Considered the largest contract in music at that point. [13]
1992 Madonna Warner Records $60–50 million Considered the largest contract in music for a female pop entertainer at that time. [11][12][52][25]
1992 Barbra Streisand Columbia Records $60–40 million [11][13]
1995 Metallica Elektra Records $60 million [11]
1999 Backstreet Boys Jive Records $60 million [53]
2022 YoungBoy Never Broke Again Motown $60 million [54][55]
1998 U2 PolyGram $50 million [56]
1991 Janet Jackson Virgin Records $50–40–32 million Considered the largest contract in music at that point. [57][58][59]

List of largest music catalog acquisitions

Year Artist Purchaser company Approx deal Notes Ref.
2024 Queen Sony Music Publishing $1.27 billion The deal comprises Queen's recorded music catalog and additional rights, including royalties from the film Bohemian Rhapsody, valued at US$1.27 billion, the largest sum ever paid for an artist's body of work, excluding touring revenue. [60][61]
2016 Michael Jackson (Estate) $750 million Michael Jackson's estate has sold his 50% stake in Sony/ATV Music Publishing, which includes the music catalogues of several artists, notably the Beatles. [62]
2024 Michael Jackson (Estate) Sony Music $600 million 50% acquisition. Considered the biggest transaction ever struck for half of a single artist's body of work. This puts total value of rights at $1.2 billion. [63][64]
2021 Bruce Springsteen Sony Music $550–500 million Included more than 300 songs, 20 studio albums, 23 live LPs, 7 EPs, and more. [65][66]
2020 Pink Floyd Sony Music $400 million The deal includes Pink Floyd's recorded music catalog, as well as their name, image, and likeness rights, but excludes music publishing assets [67]
2020 Bob Dylan Universal Music Group $400–300 million Undisclosed price. It is a songwriting catalog agreement. [68][69]
2022 Phil Collins
Genesis 		Concord Music Group $300 million [69]
2021 Sting Universal Music Publishing Group $300 million [69]
2018 Michael Jackson (Estate) Sony $287 million Michael Jackson's estate sold its 10% stake in EMI Music Publishing to Sony. [70]
2021 Paul Simon Sony Music Publishing $250 million [71]
2022 David Bowie Warner Chappell Music $250 million [69]
2023 Katy Perry Litmus Music $225 million [72]
2023 Justin Bieber Recognition Music Group $200 million [71]
2021 Neil Young $150 million [69]
2022 Bob Dylan Sony Music $150 million [69]

See also

Cases

Notes

  1. ↑ The list excludes sponsorship deals, broadcasting rights, assets, or other business ventures made by recording artists with enterprises outside of the industry
  2. ↑ Also reported for an amount of $37 million.[6]
  3. ↑ Examples: [20][21][14][22][23][24]
  4. ↑ Michael Jackson's 1991 deal with Sony was valued differently in contemporary reports. Figures ranged from $50 million to $60 million, with some sources reporting $65 million. Reports also cited a potential value of up to $1 billion, based on Sony's projections of the revenue the agreement could generate.[45][46][47][48]

References

  1. ↑ Haring, Bruce (June 3, 1993). "U2 inks 6-album deal with Island Records". Variety. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 EW Staff (June 25, 1993). "The Money Tree". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  3. ↑ Buckley, David (2002). R.E.M.: Fiction: An Alternative Biography. Virgin. p. 177. ISBN 1-85227-927-3.
  4. ↑ Cote, Jacqueline Burt (October 13, 2025). "How This Iconic Rock Duo Signed the First Million Dollar Contract in Music History". Parade. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Ahmet Ertegun Interview". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 3. January 17, 1998. p. A-56. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  6. ↑ Mitchell, Elvis (September 10, 2022). "The Treat: Writer-musician Nabil Ayers on Stevie Wonder's 'Songs in the Key of Life'". KCRW. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  7. ↑ Kirsch, Bob (August 16, 1975). "Pricing Tops List of Racker's Beefs". Billboard. Vol. 87, no. 33. p. 1. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  8. ↑ Freedland, Nat (August 31, 1974). "The Russ Regan Story". Billboard. Vol. 86, no. 35. p. TC-4. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Ebony Interview with Diana Ross". Ebony. Vol. 37, no. 1. November 1981. p. 39. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Stones' $28 million deal richest in recording history". UPI. August 26, 1983. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 Philips, Chuck (August 25, 1996). "R.E.M., Warner Records Sign $80-Million Deal". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 4, 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Knight Ridder (April 21, 1992). "Madonna signs deal 'dramatically greater' than $60 million". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Matthews, Peter; McWhirter, Norris D. (1994). Largest contrats. The Guinness Book of Records. p. 162. ISBN 978-0-8160-2645-6. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 McIntyre, Hugh (May 24, 2016). "$100 Million Record Deals For Music's Superstars: Are They A Good Investment?". Forbes. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  15. ↑ Graff, Gary (December 2, 2022). "Why Musical Artists Are Selling Their Catalog Rights". Loudwire. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  16. ↑ Ingham, Tim; Wang, Amy X (January 15, 2021). "Why Superstar Artists Are Clamoring to Sell Their Music Rights". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Michael Jackson Estate and Sony Extend Recorded-Music Deal". December 14, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Queen Catalog to be Acquired by Sony Music for £1 Billion". June 19, 2024.
  19. ↑ "The 12 Biggest Music Business Deals of 2024: Queen, Hipgnosis, Michael Jackson, Believe & More". Billboard.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Savage, Mark (March 3, 2020). "From Prince to Megan Thee Stallion: When record contracts go wrong". BBC. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  21. ↑ Holden, Stephen (April 20, 1992). "Madonna Makes a $60 Million Deal". The New York Times. Retrieved September 5, 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  22. ↑ Susman, Gary (October 3, 2002). "Who just signed the biggest deal in pop history?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Cochrane, Naima (May 9, 2021). "The Year the Bubble Burst: How 2001 Mega Contracts For Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey Signaled a Shift in the Music Business". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2023.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Waddell, Ray (October 16, 2007). "Update: Madonna Confirms Deal With Live Nation". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Brown, Mark (December 31, 1992). "'92 slow for music, good for Madonna". Telegraph Herald. p. 8. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 James, Barry (January 24, 2002). "Mariah Gets Scratched, but With a Glittering Buyout From EMI". The New York Times. Retrieved September 4, 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  27. ↑ Halperin, Shirley (May 3, 2022). "Drake Strikes Massive, Multi-Faceted Deal With Universal Music Group". Variety. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  28. ↑ Variety Staff (December 14, 2017). "Michael Jackson Estate and Sony Extend Recorded-Music Deal". Variety. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  29. ↑ Smith, Ethan (March 16, 2010). "Sony Places Big Bet on a Fallen 'King'". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved September 5, 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  30. ↑ Rys, Dan (May 21, 2017). "Jay Z, Live Nation Enter Into New Long Term Deal, Continue Roc Nation Partnership: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2023.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  31. ↑ Savage, Mark (May 3, 2012). "Lil Wayne signed $150 million deal?". Stuff. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  32. ↑ "Adele Signs $130 Million Sony Deal". Hypebot. May 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  33. ↑ Ahmed, Tufayel (May 23, 2016). "Is Adele About to Sign a £90 Million Record Deal?". Newsweek. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  34. ↑ "Williams' $125 million deal sets record in Britain". Houston Chronicle. October 3, 2002. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  35. ↑ Waddell, Ray (September 2, 2009). "Madonna To Set Record With Sticky & Sweet Tour". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  36. ↑ "Líneas de ropa y cosméticos, gimnasios, marcas audiovisuales... repasamos la carrera empresarial de Madonna" (in español). LaSexta. August 15, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  37. ↑ Sisario, Ben (March 15, 2016). "Sony to Pay Michael Jackson's Estate $750 Million for Stake in Music Catalog". The New York Times. Retrieved September 15, 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 Billboard Staff (August 3, 2001). "Whitney Houston Inks $100 Million Arista Deal". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  39. ↑ "Shakira Leaves Epic, Signs Massive Live Nation Deal". Rolling Stone. July 3, 2009. Retrieved September 4, 2023.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  40. ↑ The Hollywood Reporter (May 7, 2012). "Shakira Nears $30 Million Deal With Live Nation, Sony: Report". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  41. ↑ Hochman, David (September 13, 1996). "Warner Bros. Records re-sign R.E.M. for $80 million". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  42. ↑ MTV News Staff (January 12, 1996). "Janet Signs Biggest Deal;So There, Mr. "King Of Pop"". MTV. Archived from the original on September 4, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  43. ↑ "Harry Styles reportedly signs $80 million record deal". RTÉ. July 1, 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  44. ↑ Adegoke, Yinka (July 8, 2008). "UPDATE 1-Nickelback joins Live Nation in global deal". Reuters. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  45. ↑ Harrington, Richard (March 21, 1991). "Michael Jackson's Thriller". Washington Post. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  46. ↑ McNary, Dave (March 21, 1991). "Michael Jackson re-signs with Sony - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  47. ↑ Rothenberg, Randall (March 21, 1991). "Michael Jackson Gets Thriller of Deal To Stay With Sony". The New York Times. Retrieved September 15, 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  48. ↑ "Michael Jackson, A Division Of Sony". Bloomberg News. March 31, 1991. Retrieved September 15, 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  49. ↑ Citron, Alan; Phillips, Chuck (March 21, 1991). "Michael Jackson Agrees to Huge Contracty With Sony". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  50. ↑ "Prince signs $100-million deal". Tampa Bay Times. September 4, 1992. Retrieved September 4, 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  51. ↑ "Aerosmith to Sign Monster Sony Pac". Los Angeles Times. August 14, 1991. Retrieved September 5, 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  52. ↑ Palmer, Landon (2020). Rock Star/Movie Star. Oxford University Press. p. 203. ISBN 978-0-19-088842-8. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  53. ↑ MTV News Staff (November 16, 1999). "Backstreet Boys Sign $60 Million Contract". MTV. Archived from the original on September 4, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  54. ↑ "NBA YoungBoy Reveals He Signed $60 Million Record Deal". Rap-Up. August 1, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  55. ↑ Stutz, Colin (October 24, 2022). "YoungBoy Never Broke Again Signs With Motown". Billboard. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  56. ↑ MTV News Staff (September 8, 1998). "U2 Signs Pricey Deal For Best Of Albums". MTV. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  57. ↑ Banks, Jack (2018). Monopoly Television: Mtv's Quest To Control The Music. Taylor & Francis. p. 148. ISBN 978-0-429-96739-9. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  58. ↑ Kennedy, Dana (January 12, 1996). "Janet's Deal of the Decade". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  59. ↑ "Janet Jackson Inks Record $50 Mil. Deal With Virgin Records". Jet. March 25, 1991. p. 60. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  60. ↑ Peoples, Glenn; Dilts Marshall, Elizabeth (June 12, 2024). "The 12 Biggest Music Business Deals of 2024: Queen, Hipgnosis, Michael Jackson, Believe & More". Billboard. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  61. ↑ "Queen Catalog to be Acquired by Sony Music for £1 Billion". June 19, 2024. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  62. ↑ Christman, Ed (September 30, 2016). "Sony Finalizes Acquisition of Michael Jackson Estate's Stake in Sony/ATV Publishing". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2023.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  63. ↑ Carras, Christi (August 22, 2024). "Court approves $600-million sale of Michael Jackson music to Sony". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  64. ↑ Christman, Ed (February 9, 2024). "Sony Music Buys Stake in Michael Jackson Catalog, Valuing Rights at Over $1.2B". Billboard. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  65. ↑ Sisario, Ben (December 15, 2021). "Bruce Springsteen Sells Music Catalog in Massive Deal". The New York Times. Retrieved September 5, 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  66. ↑ Roberts, Randall (December 26, 2021). "Bruce Springsteen sells music catalog to Sony in record-breaking, $500-million deal". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 4, 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  67. ↑ "The 12 Biggest Music Business Deals of 2024: Queen, Hipgnosis, Michael Jackson, Believe & More". Billboard.
  68. ↑ Sisario, Ben (December 7, 2020). "Bob Dylan Sells His Songwriting Catalog in Blockbuster Deal". The New York Times. Retrieved September 5, 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  69. ↑ 69.0 69.1 69.2 69.3 69.4 69.5 Dellatto, Marisa (September 29, 2022). "Phil Collins And Genesis Sell Music Rights For Reported $300 Million: Here's How That Compares With Other Rock Icons". Forbes. Retrieved September 5, 2023.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  70. ↑ Halperin, Shirley (July 31, 2018). "Sony Buys Out Michael Jackson Estate's Remaining Stake in EMI Music Publishing". Variety. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  71. ↑ 71.0 71.1 Walfisz, Jonny (January 26, 2023). "Justin Bieber sells music catalogue for $200 million: How does his deal compare to other artists?". Euronews. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  72. ↑ Aswad, Jem (September 18, 2023). "Katy Perry Sells Catalog Rights to Litmus Music for $225 Million". Variety. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
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