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Sony Music fully acquires Bob Dylan’s entire recordings catalogue
By Chris Cooke | Published on Tuesday 25 January 2022
Sony Music yesterday announced that it has fully acquired Bob Dylan’s entire recordings catalogue in a deal that was actually concluded last July.
Dylan has had a career long relationship with Sony’s Columbia label, so the big deal expands his existing partnership with the major. Specifics of the transaction are not known though – as with the deal he did with Universal around his songs catalogue – it likely gives Sony complete ownership and control of all the rights and royalties linked to his music – but in this case his recordings – in return for a mega-bucks upfront payment.
In its announcement, Sony also confirmed that it would continue working with Dylan on catalogue releases, including future editions in his long-running ‘Bootleg Series’ of albums, and that the deal also provides it with “the opportunity … to partner with Dylan on additional projects”.
Confirming the deal, Sony Music boss Rob Stringer said: “Columbia Records has had a special relationship with Bob Dylan from the beginning of his career and we are tremendously proud and excited to be continuing to grow and evolve our ongoing 60 year partnership”.
“Bob is one of music’s greatest icons and an artist of unrivalled genius”, he added. “The essential impact he and his recordings continue to have on popular culture is second to none and we’re THRILLED he will now be a permanent member of the Sony Music family. We are excited to work with Bob and his team to find new ways to make his music available to his many fans today and to future generations”.
Meanwhile, Dylan himself mused: “Columbia Records and Rob Stringer have been nothing but good to me for many, many years and a whole lot of records. I’m glad that all my recordings can stay where they belong”.
