Jack White sells music catalog
Jack White has been in the headlines recently for his political views, and he is now making news for a major career move. White has sold a stake in his catalog to Sony Music, with the deal having closed earlier this summer.
Although it is not clear just how much of his catalog White has sold, he reportedly only let go of a portion of recordings from across his career, including his work with The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, The Dead Weather, and his solo career. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed this news.
At this time, there is no confirmation as to how much Sony Music paid for its stake.
White is just the latest high-profile artist to sell their back catalog and publishing rights.
Rockers getting paid big money for catalogs
Last year, Queen sold their catalog to Sony Music for over $1 Billion. Bruce Springsteen recently sold his entire music library for approximately $500 million, while Pink Floyd sold theirs for $400 million. Bob Dylan, Stevie Nicks, KISS, Neil Young, and Slipknot have also made similar deals.
Catalog Cash-In: What Jack White—and Morrissey—Could Be Getting
When Jack White quietly sold a stake—not the full rights—of his catalog (including The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, and his solo work) to Sony Music this summer, terms were undisclosed. Industry insiders suggest such partial deals typically fetch tens of millions of dollars, not the full blockbuster sums seen in other mega-sales
For context, comparable catalog agreements are eye-popping: Queen’s catalog commanded $1.27 billion, Bruce Springsteen’s fetched $500–550 million, and Pink Floyd’s worth landed around $400 million.
Since White didn’t sell his entire catalog or masters, a reasonable estimate for his slice could be in the $50–200 million range—depending on how much control he retained.
Meanwhile, Morrissey abruptly announced he wants to put all his Smiths-related business interests—from songs to merchandise—up for sale, citing burnout
But given that Johnny Marr holds 50% of the rights and control of key trademarks, experts warn serious buyers might offer significantly below market value. Morrissey’s DIY approach is already likened to a “yard sale”—a move likely to severely undercut his potential earnings.
