topic Re: BOB DYLAN HAS SOLD THE RIGHTS TO ALL HIS MUSIC in Community Chat

BOB DYLAN HAS SOLD THE RIGHTS TO ALL HIS MUSIC

Pearlee — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 14:42:47 GMT

To Universal Music Group. Price was not disclosed but the experts have estimated the music is worth $200 or $300 million dollars.

The times they are a changin'.

Source: Today's NY Post

Re: BOB DYLAN HAS SOLD THE RIGHTS TO ALL HIS MUSIC

Witchy Woman — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 14:47:00 GMT

@Pearlee

I heard that this morning and wondered what it will all mean. Will he have any control over how it is used?

At some point, I suppose, it makes sense to turn it over, but I'm curious how it will play out.

That's a lot of $$, but I'm sure he was already very wealthy.

Re: BOB DYLAN HAS SOLD THE RIGHTS TO ALL HIS MUSIC

amyb — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 14:56:26 GMT

Funny...I just read somewhere yesterday that Stevie Nicks did the same...

Re: BOB DYLAN HAS SOLD THE RIGHTS TO ALL HIS MUSIC

KingstonsMom — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 14:57:47 GMT

He's 79, he may as well capitalize on his music while he still can.

From Microsoft News:

Universal Music Group announced Monday that it had acquired Bob Dylan's entire catalog of songs in a deal that the New York Times estimated to be worth north of $300 million.

The deal includes 600-plus copyrights ranging from 1962's "Blowin' in the Wind" to 1964's "The Times They Are A-Changin" to this year's "Murder Most Foul" — a ballad about the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy that became the 79-year-old rock pioneer's first No. 1 hit.

"It's no secret that the art of songwriting is the fundamental key to all great music, nor is it a secret that Bob is one of the very greatest practitioners of that art," Lucian Grainge, the CEO of Universal Music Group, said in a statement.

A pioneer in the folk-rock movement of the 1960s, Dylan in 2016 memorably became the first songwriter in history to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. The Swedish Academy cited his work "for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition."

"To represent the body of work of one of the greatest songwriters of all time — whose cultural importance can't be overstated — is both a privilege and a responsibility," Universal Music Publishing Group Chairman & CEO Jody Gerson said in a statement.

"We look forward to working with Bob and the team in ensuring his artistry continues to reach and inspire generations of fans, recording artists and songwriters around the world."

The deal caps a song catalog acquisition spree within the music industry this year.

Last week, the independent Primary Wave Music paid an estimated $80 million for a majority stake in former Fleetwood Mac frontwoman Stevie Nicks' back catalog.

And according to the Times, the U.K.-based Hipgnosis Songs Fund has spent at least $670 million this year accumulating 44,000 songs by Barry Manilow, Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders, Blondie and other artists.

Re: BOB DYLAN HAS SOLD THE RIGHTS TO ALL HIS MUSIC

Pearlee — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 15:02:52 GMT

There is already one iconic Dylan song used in a TV commercial so I don't know how it can get any worse. He should have put conditions for use in the terms of the contract for the sale of the rights, unless he's only seeing dollar signs.

Re: BOB DYLAN HAS SOLD THE RIGHTS TO ALL HIS MUSIC

alicedee — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 15:09:29 GMT

I guess at his age he decided to get the $ and do what he likes with it. Don't blame him a bit...I would probably do the same. Easier to get the cash than make all the other decisions as to how to use or not use the catalog.

I love his early stuff....won't mind at all seeing it pop up in advertising.

Re: BOB DYLAN HAS SOLD THE RIGHTS TO ALL HIS MUSIC

ALRATIBA — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 15:11:57 GMT

Probably a good move financially.

Apparently Universal Music (buyer) is also buying a bunch of others including "Elton John and his co-writer Bernie Taupin, Adele and the Bee Gees."

Re: BOB DYLAN HAS SOLD THE RIGHTS TO ALL HIS MUSIC

Nancy Drew — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 15:40:41 GMT

Probably a good financial move but as an artist I could never do it. I know why the likes of a Taylor Swift do it in the beginning to get signed with a Scooter Braun. At the end of the day his music was wonderful and will live on.

Re: BOB DYLAN HAS SOLD THE RIGHTS TO ALL HIS MUSIC

Still Raining — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 15:48:54 GMT

Would have guessed they would be worth more. Anyway, good for him.

Re: BOB DYLAN HAS SOLD THE RIGHTS TO ALL HIS MUSIC

Miss Pepsi — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 15:53:07 GMT

My husband was a HUGE Bob Dylan Fan. Hubby passed away in September but I have to wonder what he would think about this.

Re: BOB DYLAN HAS SOLD THE RIGHTS TO ALL HIS MUSIC

songbird — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 16:26:56 GMT

Taylor Swift did it also. Then several months later regretted it. She wasn't allowed to rerecord her music or perform it. The agreement was short term, as she was able to regain control of her music. She apparently learned her lesson and will never do it again. During the embargo on her old music, she complained bitterly in the media. Embarrassing the new owner. I think that was one reason she was able to get music back.

Re: BOB DYLAN HAS SOLD THE RIGHTS TO ALL HIS MUSIC

KingstonsMom — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 17:55:18 GMT

@songbird

Taylor had a clause in her contract with Scooter Braun that she could not re-record her first 6 albums that Scooter bought, for one year.

That year is up and she's in the studio now re-recording those early albums.

Re: BOB DYLAN HAS SOLD THE RIGHTS TO ALL HIS MUSIC

Mz iMac — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 19:11:38 GMT

@Witchy Woman wrote:
@Pearlee

I heard that this morning and wondered what it will all mean. Will he have any control over how it is used?

If he kept the "Masters" yes he would have control. However, we do not know if that was part of his contract when he sold his catalog.

Bob Dylan is an "old head" & should know to keep his "Masters." If he has any heirs, the "Masters" will go to them to "keep the $$$$ flowing."

Re: BOB DYLAN HAS SOLD THE RIGHTS TO ALL HIS MUSIC

golding76 — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 22:35:55 GMT

I've loved the music of Bob Dylan from the days when he first arrived on the scene. He and I are contemporaries, and so whatever zeitgeist he interpreted, I tended to feel in a similar fashion. And yes, I have even loved his growl-like and rough sounds in his late-stage career. I love Bob Dylan's music! His honky-tonk sound is right up my alley, too.

When I read this post, the first thing that popped into my mind was that maybe he is now too exhausted from age to continue his "Never Ending Tour." I've had the joy of seeing him in concert three times, and I'd attend again if he, time and circumstance made it possible.

Regarding any other aspects of this decision, I have no opinion. His music compositions are his babies and he is free to do with them what he chooses.

ETA: I overlooked the obvious. With the COVID-19 pandemic, who knows when large numbers of people will want to gather again for live performances. Dylan probably calculated that in the foreseeable future, there will no longer be the magnitude of crowd he seeks to play to. I know that Frankie Valli cancelled the tour he and his Four Seasons had for the summer of 2020 for the U.K. and Belgium (I think he included Belgium for some strange reason. They are now rescheduled for most of the same venues in the U.K. this summer, but we'll see. Frankie is no kid either.).

Re: BOB DYLAN HAS SOLD THE RIGHTS TO ALL HIS MUSIC

Highlands72 — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 19:43:59 GMT

@songbird wrote:
Taylor Swift did it also. Then several months later regretted it. She wasn't allowed to rerecord her music or perform it. The agreement was short term, as she was able to regain control of her music. She apparently learned her lesson and will never do it again. During the embargo on her old music, she complained bitterly in the media. Embarrassing the new owner. I think that was one reason she was able to get music back.

Who knows? She may do it again when she is 79.

Re: BOB DYLAN HAS SOLD THE RIGHTS TO ALL HIS MUSIC

Highlands72 — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 19:46:43 GMT

His heirs probably would have sold the rights, anyway.

It happens all the time, not music-rights specific.

Re: BOB DYLAN HAS SOLD THE RIGHTS TO ALL HIS MUSIC

SuhseK — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 19:54:40 GMT

A man of enormous talent.

My Aunt who is 70, is a big fan, particularly, of his earlier work, and she got me hooked!

He has every right to do, as he chooses, with his music. Certainly, he legacy, will outlive him, and far beyond.

Thank you for sharing, a rare gift, Bob!

Re: BOB DYLAN HAS SOLD THE RIGHTS TO ALL HIS MUSIC

SusieQ_2 — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 00:11:29 GMT

I don't know much about Bob Dylan other than his name really is Robert aka Bob, lol. Well, maybe I know just a bit more than that but not enough to comment on his decision to sell the rights to his music.

An artist that I do know a lot about is Taylor Swift and just about everything in this thread about her music, her contracts, and who she was signed with is incorrect starting with the first mention that says she signed a contract with Scooter Braun. She didn't.

Moving on we have "Taylor did it also...regretted it several months later...and could not perform her own music."

The truth is Taylor did not sign her music away and come to regret it several months later. What she did, at the age of 16, was to sign a 12 year contract with Scott Borchetta who at the time was with Dreamworks. He told Taylor he was starting his own label, Big Machine Records which he did. That contract is what gave the label ownership of her first six albums..

Last year Borchetta sold the Big Machine Label to Ithaca Holdings owned by Scooter Braun for upwards of 300 million dollars. Recently Braun sold the catalog of Swift's music to Shamrock Holdings. Taylor has never regained the ownership of those first six albums.

Only after the acquisition did Shamrock reach out to Taylor saying they hoped she would work with them. Taylor was hopeful but once she was shown their contract she realized that Ithaca Holdings and Scooter Braun would still be benefiting from her work so she declined.

She has now started re-recording her first five albums which she is legally allowed to do under the terms of the 2006 contract with Big Machine. She will more than likely include Reputation when the time comes that qualifies it for re-recording.

I'm not posting this to throw shade at the people who commented nor do I think they had any nefarious reasons for what they posted, lol. They probably thought what they posted was true. I think sometimes we hear part of a story, think we got it right, and repeat it. I just wanted to set the record straight...no pun intened.

Re: BOB DYLAN HAS SOLD THE RIGHTS TO ALL HIS MUSIC

skatting44 — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 22:58:17 GMT

He can buy his own private island .

Re: BOB DYLAN HAS SOLD THE RIGHTS TO ALL HIS MUSIC

ALRATIBA — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 23:21:39 GMT

FYI for Dylan fans - easy to find both of these online:

I've mentioned this before re Bob Dylan .... But Bishop Robert Barron did a series of YouTube videos re Dylans music.

Also, if you haven't heard his speech after winning the Nobel prize for literature - check it out. It's fantastic!