Pink Floyd’s $500m catalog public sale delayed on account of band ‘infighting’ (report)

The sale of Pink Floyd’s music catalog, which reportedly may fetch about $500 million and is touted as one of many largest music rights offers in historical past, continues to be hanging within the steadiness because the band’s members fail to succeed in an settlement over taxes, belongings and bassist Roger Waters’ views on Ukraine.

That’s in keeping with the Monetary Occasions, which, citing a number of folks concerned in negotiations, stories that the public sale course of continues to be in limbo about 5 months because it began, with the members of the British band butting heads over the tax construction of the deal.

For the reason that sale course of began, stories have instructed that the catalog has attracted curiosity from potential consumers like Sony Music Group, Warner Music Group, BMG, Hipgnosis, Harmony, Main Wave, and personal fairness group Blackstone.

Final month, trade sources instructed Music Enterprise Worldwide founder, Tim Ingham, that Floyd’s crew is on the lookout for over GBP £420 million ($467 million) for the catalog, together with recorded music rights however NOT music publishing rights.

MBW famous that three of the reported consumers have an current enterprise relationship with the band together with Sony, which distributes the Floyd catalog within the US; Warner, which has an identical relationship with the band in Europe and different territories; and BMG, Roger Waters’ writer.

Nonetheless, a deal nonetheless has but to materialize on account of strained relations between Waters and Dave Gilmour, sources instructed the FT. Waters relies within the US, whereas the opposite band members are within the UK, making negotiations much more advanced.

One of many bidders reportedly mentioned that the strained relationship had “made it unattainable” to pursue a transaction, whereas one other bidder mentioned they could by no means have the ability to shut a deal even when a purchaser was chosen because the band “by no means want an excuse to disagree,” the FT reported.

However some sources with information of the small print reportedly mentioned that bidders nonetheless hoped to succeed in an settlement within the coming weeks as talks stay lively.

A few of the bidders concerned additionally famous that Waters’ controversial feedback about being on a Ukrainian “kill checklist” additional weighed on the talks.

In an interview with Rolling Stone final week, 79-year-old Waters referred to as the Ukraine battle “an pointless warfare.”

“Russia shouldn’t have been inspired to invade the Ukraine after they tried for 20 years to keep away from it by suggesting diplomatic measures to Western governments,” Waters instructed Rolling Stone.

Waters’ feedback got here after Pink Floyd members Gilmour and Nick Mason earlier this 12 months launched a music to assist Ukraine, pledging to direct proceeds to Ukrainian humanitarian aid.

The band’s reported infighting is probably stalling what could possibly be one of many largest catalog offers in historical past following the sale of Bruce Springsteen’s music in a reported $550 million plus deal, and the sale of Bob Dylan’s recorded music catalog price about $150 million. Each catalogs had been acquired by Sony Music.

These main offers and the attractiveness of the music catalogs of legendary musicians come at a time when previous songs begin to acquire extra reputation over new music.

Within the US alone, consumption of ‘Present’ recorded music within the first half of 2022 fell 1.4% in quantity phrases 12 months over 12 months, in keeping with a midyear report revealed by US market monitor Luminate (previously MRC Knowledge / Nielsen Music).

Pink Floyd is among the many legendary bands that stay common to this date, attracting 15.5 million month-to-month listeners on Spotify.

However a deal for Pink Floyd’s music library stays unsure till the band’s members are in a position to attain an settlement. Different hurdles that the deal may face embody tax implications because the members are based mostly in numerous areas and whether or not the customer would purchase the catalog in US greenback or the British pound.Music Enterprise Worldwide