Songs For Sale

When it comes to music publishing catalogs, which genres command the biggest dollars? Are all royalties created equal? And should you keep an eye on your matching rights? Buying and selling music publishing catalogs is filled with costly pitfalls. The complexity of publishing contracts, copyright law and royalty streams create pitfalls that can add unforeseen costs and hamstring the buyer or seller with unwanted terms. Billboard spoke with leading attorneys and experts to identify trouble spots and provide solutions. How should a catalog seller prepare? Deals can become “lopsided” when a seller cannot match the buyer’s institutional knowledge and ability to value a catalog, says Scott Bradford of DLA Piper: “They don’t look into the value and instead go with what the buyer is offering.” Ch...