All articles tagged with #publishing rights
Billboard reports that rumors Bieber couldn’t perform older songs at Coachella because of his catalog sale are unfounded; insiders say there are no live-performance restrictions. He mixed about a dozen older tracks with mostly new material from SWAG and SWAG II on a minimal stage, and standard performance licenses cover playing his own songs in concert.
The owner of Sports Illustrated, Authentic Brands Group, has sued the magazine's former publisher, Manoj Bhargava, for $48 million, alleging that Bhargava's company stopped paying its bills as a pretext to negotiating a new licensing deal. Bhargava is accused of behaving like a gangster and making outrageous demands, leading to the revocation of Arena's license and subsequent layoff of staff. Authentic Brands sold the licensing rights to Minute Media after Bhargava's company failed to pay a $3.75 million quarterly license fee. The lawsuit accuses Bhargava of seeking to "weaponize their obstinance" and Arena of acting with "lawlessness" by refusing to transfer SI-related licensed assets to Minute Media.
Model and entrepreneur Karlie Kloss, along with her husband Josh Kushner, have acquired the publishing rights to Life magazine from Dotdash Meredith through their company Bedford Media, with plans to relaunch it as a print magazine with a strong digital and video presence. The revival of the iconic magazine, which was first published in 1883 and shuttered in 2000, reflects the couple's broader media ambitions, following their acquisition of i-D Magazine from Vice Media last year. Dotdash Meredith will retain Life's photo library and content archives while Bedford Media aims to blend iconic brands with new ways of reaching audiences, focusing on quality and depth rather than ubiquity.
Sports Illustrated's publishing rights have been acquired by Minute Media from Authentic Brands Group, following mass layoffs at the iconic sports publication. Minute Media plans to bring technological innovation and a wider global audience to the brand while maintaining its core mission. The deal includes the SI swimsuit edition and SI for Kids, and Minute Media intends to retain much of the SI staff. This move comes after Arena Group Holdings, the previous owner of the brand rights, failed to make a critical payment, triggering the search for new partners.
Minute Media secures the publishing rights to Sports Illustrated in a long-term partnership with Authentic Brands Group, following a financial crisis at SI's former publishing partner. The deal includes a 10-year publishing license with an option for an additional 20 years, and Authentic will acquire an equity stake in Minute Media. Minute Media plans to continue publishing the print edition of Sports Illustrated and oversee all digital and print editorial operations across the SI portfolio, aiming to enhance visibility and commercial viability while honoring SI's legacy.
Sony Music Group has acquired half of Michael Jackson’s publishing and recorded masters in a deal valued at around $1.2 billion, making it the biggest deal for a single music artist’s assets to date. The complex transaction includes assets from Jackson’s Mijac publishing catalog, but does not include royalties from the “MJ” Broadway musical and other theatrical productions featuring the musician’s music. Sony's acquisition of Jackson's catalog adds to its ownership of the world’s largest music publishing company.
Sports Illustrated's publisher, The Arena Group, has notified employees of a significant number of job eliminations, prompting the publication's union to call for continued publication and audience service. The magazine, owned by Authentic Brands Group, has faced significant changes, including a reduction in workforce and leadership turnover. The future of Sports Illustrated's publication remains uncertain as discussions with ABG continue, while industry experts lament the decline of a once-preeminent sports journalism outlet.
Sports Illustrated has laid off most of its staff, potentially signaling the end of the iconic publication's future. The magazine's owner, Authentic Brands Group, revoked the publishing license from the Arena Group, leading to layoffs and uncertainty about the publication's continuation. The staff union is urging ABG to ensure the magazine's continued publication, but the future remains uncertain as ABG has not disclosed any plans for the publication.
Aubrey O'Day criticizes Diddy for offering Bad Boy artists their publishing rights back, calling it a "measly" gesture. O'Day claims that the deal only pays royalties for recent streaming, amounting to a few hundred dollars, and requires artists to sign an NDA and release Diddy from any claims or wrongdoings. She argues that the offer does not compensate for the millions generated by the group during their heyday and urges others to reject it. O'Day wishes for fair payment and for Diddy to address his past actions.
Sean "Diddy" Combs, founder of Bad Boy Records, has agreed to give back the publishing rights to all artists and writers who worked with the label. Artists such as Faith Evans, Mase, The Lox, 112, and the estate of The Notorious B.I.G. have signed agreements to receive their publishing rights. Combs chose to reallocate the rights instead of selling them, aiming to promote financial mobility for artists, particularly within the Black community. Bad Boy Records has sold over 500 million records since its founding in 1992.
Diddy is bucking the trend of musicians selling their publishing rights by returning the lucrative publishing rights to artists signed to his Bad Boy Records label. He has reportedly turned down offers worth hundreds of millions of dollars to do so. This move comes after Diddy donated $2 million to Black initiatives and the Jackson State University Development Fund. Artists such as Ma$e, Faith Evans, The Lox, and the estate of the late Notorious B.I.G. are among those benefiting from this arrangement. Diddy aims to revolutionize the music industry and hopes other executives and record labels will follow suit.
Diddy has made an unprecedented move in the music industry by giving back the publishing rights to several of his former Bad Boy artists, including Ma$e, Faith Evans, The Lox, 112, and the Notorious B.I.G.'s estate. Despite being offered a significant sum of money for the rights, Diddy chose to empower the artists and revolutionize the industry by sacrificing hundreds of millions of dollars. This act reflects his commitment to enriching others in his community and he hopes others in the music business will follow suit.
Sean "Diddy" Combs has decided to reassign the publishing rights of Bad Boy Records back to the artists and writers who helped build the label, including the Notorious B.I.G.'s estate, Faith Evans, Mase, the Lox, and 112. The assets are worth hundreds of millions of dollars and have increased in value as music catalogs from other artists have been sold for nine-figure deals. Combs has received multi-million dollar offers for the rights but has chosen to reassign them to the songwriters. This move is seen as part of Combs' goal to promote economic empowerment for Black artists and culture.
Sean "Diddy" Combs has reassigned the publishing rights of Bad Boy Entertainment back to the artists and songwriters who helped build the label. Artists such as Ma$e, Faith Evans, The LOX, 112, and the Estate of the Notorious B.I.G. have already signed agreements to regain their rights. The process began in May 2021 after Combs turned down offers to sell the catalog. The move comes after a public dispute between Combs and Ma$e, who accused Combs of unfair business practices. Bad Boy Entertainment, founded by Combs in 1993, has been home to numerous successful artists over the years.