Story perspectives

Sony, GIC Seal $4B Deal for 45,000-Track Catalog

5/12/2026

Summary

Sony Acquires Catalog

Sony Music Publishing and Singapore’s GIC completed a $4 billion acquisition of Recognition Music Group.
The purchase adds about 45,000 songs, including hits such as “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Single Ladies,” to Sony’s catalog.
Jon Platt said Sony will use its licensing network to maximize the long-tail value of the new catalog.
Qasim Abbas and Ben Katovsky called the transaction a strong investor outcome and a milestone for the catalog’s legacy.

Summary

Sony Partners GIC

Sony Music Group and GIC are executing the deal through a venture, with Sony Bank investing.
Recognition Music Group, founded in 2018 as Hipgnosis Songs by Merck Mercuriadis, secured $200 million Justin Bieber and $140 million Red Hot Chili Peppers catalogs, while Blackstone bought Hipgnosis Songs Capital for $800 million in 2021 and for $1.6 billion April 2024.
Sony Music Publishing’s advisors include Simpson Thatcher & Bartlett, Loeb & Loeb and PwC, while Blackstone and Recognition were advised by Shot Tower and Deloitte.

History

Historical Context

After Paramount-originated Famous Music was sold by Viacom to Sony Music Publishing in May 2007 for $370 million, Sony added a catalog of classic film songs to its holdings. That landmark deal illustrated Sony’s long-term strategy of expanding music assets, a pattern echoed today as Sony Music Publishing and Singapore’s GIC negotiate a $4 billion purchase of Recognition Music Group, further consolidating song-right ownership.

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Sony Acquires Catalog

Sony Music Publishing and Singapore’s GIC completed a $4 billion acquisition of Recognition Music Group.
The purchase adds about 45,000 songs, including hits such as “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Single Ladies,” to Sony’s catalog.
Jon Platt said Sony will use its licensing network to maximize the long-tail value of the new catalog.
Qasim Abbas and Ben Katovsky called the transaction a strong investor outcome and a milestone for the catalog’s legacy.

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