Britney Spears Sells Music Catalogue Rights
Pop icon Britney Spears has sold the rights to her entire music catalogue, according to information obtained by the BBC.
The 44-year-old singer reportedly completed the sale to independent music publisher Primary Wave on 30 December for approximately $200 million (£146 million).
Spears, whose personal and professional life was long governed by a conservatorship, is renowned for hits such as ...Baby One More Time, Oops!... I Did It Again, Toxic, and Gimme More.
Primary Wave has not responded to the BBC's requests for comment, and representatives for Spears have declined to provide statements.
In January 2024, Spears stated she would
never return to the music industry. Her most recent release was a duet with Elton John in 2022.
Primary Wave's Catalogue Acquisitions
Primary Wave has also acquired rights to the estates of notable artists including Notorious BIG, Prince, and Whitney Houston.
Specific details of Spears' catalogue sale, including the exact price, have not been publicly disclosed.
Industry Trends in Catalogue Sales
Several prominent artists have recently sold their music catalogues. Bruce Springsteen sold his back catalogue to Sony in 2021 for $500 million, while Justin Bieber reportedly signed a $200 million deal with Hipgnosis Songs Capital in 2023. Other artists such as Justin Timberlake and Shakira have also engaged in similar transactions.
Primary Wave was established 20 years ago by music executive Lawrence Mestel, who began by purchasing 50% of Kurt Cobain's share of the Nirvana catalogue.
Britney Spears' Career and Legacy
Spears is among the best-selling female artists globally, with over 150 million records sold. Her catalogue features nine studio albums released since her debut in 1999.
The sale follows a challenging period for Spears, who ended a 13-year conservatorship in 2021. This legal ship gave her father control over her finances and personal affairs.
In 2023, Spears published her memoir, The Woman in Me, which recounts her experiences living under the conservatorship.
Her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, released his memoir titled You Thought You Knew at the end of 2025.
