While in 2023, there were reports that Universal was the likely buyer of the Queen Music Catalog, the latest report is that Sony Music is now the principal participant of the acquisition deal.
According to Variety, two reliable sources have confirmed that Sony Music is currently in the process of acquiring Queen’s collection of musical compositions for one billion GBP which is around US $1.27 billion. The only revenue-earning asset not included is the rights to live performances. The rights are accordingly being retained by founding members Roger Taylor and Brian May as they are still touring actively along with new lead singer Adam Lambert.
Also excluded in the catalog are the musical compositions acquired by Universal in connection with its acquisition of EMI in 2011, EMI is the recording company that launched and handled Queen’s recording career since 1973.
The Queen Music Catalog is regarded as the rock era’s most valuable collection, which includes globally popular all time hit songs like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Will Rock You,” “We Are the Champions,” “Radio Ga Ga,”, “Somebody to Love,” “Another One Bites the Dust,” “You’re My Best Friend” and “39.”
Synopsis of Queen’s History
In 1970, founding members Roger Taylor and Brian May initially formed a band that they called Smile until they were later joined by Freddie Mercury and John Deacon. After which, they decided to call their group Queen.
While they struck recording deals with several record labels, they eventually signed up for a recording career with EMI, which produced and released Queen’s first album in 1073. Under EMI, the group’s big break came in 1975 with the release of Freddie Mercury’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” the mini-symphony that became one of the longest and most iconic hit singles of all time.
EMI however, later signed a licensing agreement with Hollywood Records which included all studio albums that followed the licensing agreement. Yet in 2011, Universal acquired EMI, and had gained the right to release several compositions to Disney in the US and Canada. That is why, the compositions are excluded in the Queen Music Catalog that Sony Music is poised to acquire for $1 billion, any time soon.
Queen’s enduring music legacy is demonstrated by the songs that are still being played extensively by radio stations and in sporting events particularly the staple stadium songs “We Are the Champions” and “We Will Rock You.”