David Bowie - Heroes (live in Berlin, 2002). Bowie's publishing catalog sold for $250M yesterday.

[highplainsdem]

Variety story on the sale:

https://variety.com/2022/music/news/david-bowie-publishing-catalog-acquired-warner-chappell-1235145941/

[AZSkiffyGeek]

1. A lot of older artists are doing this

It brings the heirs a lot more money than royalties from streaming would. Springsteen, Dylan, Paul Simon and some others have done this in the past year or so.

[highplainsdem]

4. Article from Ultimate Classic Rock last January: "40 Rockers Who Have Sold Their Publishing Rights."

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/rock-publishing-rights-sold/

[Deuxcents]

2. Do you think they're doing this

To protect their music and legacy so for example, their music cannot be used for campaign rallies or ads w/o their permission but now it’s protected by big names like Sony?

[abqtommy]

3. Could be, but I think everybody does this primarily for the money so they can retire

in style. Yes, I'm a cynical old coot and I don't begrudge anybody cashing in at all.

[Deuxcents]

5. Nor do i

The recording industry treated them as a commodity so.. I’m hoping it’s to protect their music.. the big companies like Sony, etc have lawyers, etc to enforce the artist ‘s wishes. I hope they treat those treasures well..

[highplainsdem]

6. Deuxcents, if you check the article I posted a link to in reply 4 above, you'll find this in the

section about Neil Young:


https://ultimateclassicrock.com/rock-publishing-rights-sold/

Hipgnosis paid an estimated $150 million for 50 percent of 1,180 songs written by Neil Young in January 2021. Mercuriadis swore that Young's longtime refusal to have his songs used in commercials would be honored. "We have a common integrity, ethos and passion born out of a belief in music and these important songs," he said. "There will never be a 'Burger of Gold," but we will work together to make sure everyone gets to hear them on Neil's terms."

I hope that these companies will honor the artists' wishes.

[bigtree]

7. news in there about a new biopic in the works

...hope they get his sardonic side.

His sense of humor was totally outrageous, nearly boundless, and a bit controversial.

[highplainsdem]

8. Hope so, too. That article says the film could premiere at the Sundance

Film Festival, which I just heard will be virtual rather than in person.

It's good that Bowie's longtime friend and producer, Tony Visconti, has been the music director for the film.

[bigtree]

10. oh yeah, the music

...and Visconti producing for Bowie from Space Oddity to Blackstar.

[highplainsdem]

12. He's a brilliant producer. Have you read his book?

https://www.amazon.com/Tony-Visconti-Autobiography-Bowie-Brooklyn/dp/0007229453

[TexasBushwhacker]

9. FYI, if you have Sirius XM, they will have a Bowie channel

to honor his 75th birthday.

https://blog.siriusxm.com/david-bowie-limited-run-channel/

[highplainsdem]

11. Thanks!