Pink Floyd Sell Discography, Name & Likeness Rights To Sony For $400 Million

Pink Floyd have sold the rights to their recordings, likeness, branding, and theatrical rights to Sony for $400 million, Variety and the Financial Times report. However, the key songwriters have retained songwriting rights.

Regarding name and likeness, the deal has secured Sony the rights to merchandise, album artwork and similar theatrical rights. Sony has scored well with Pink Floyd’s legendary albums The Dark Side Of The Moon, The Wall, Wish You Were Here, The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn, and more.

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The discography deal has been years in the making, with the band reportedly having an initial asking price of $500 million.

According to the reports, Pink Floyd were close to a deal in 2022, but the ongoing fighting between songwriters Roger Waters and David Gilmour (as well as Waters’ controversial and outspoken stances on Russia, the US, and in favour of the BDS movement) reportedly scared off several potential suitors.

Hipgnosis, Warner Music and BMG were reportedly close to securing a deal with Pink Floyd in 2022. BMG dropped Waters from its roster as a solo artist earlier this year, with the bassist and singer’s commentary in recent years being an alleged “major factor” in the deals not happening, as well as rising interest rates and the falling value of the British pound.

Along with Waters and Gilmour, the deal has involved drummer Nick Mason, the estates of founder and songwriter Roger “Syd” Barrett, and keyboardist Richard Wright.

Representatives for Pink Floyd and Sony denied commenting on the deal. However, sources close to the situation confirmed the legitimacy of the agreement to Variety.

Prior to acquiring Pink Floyd’s discography, merchandise and likeness rights, Sony had spent over a billion dollars on securing the recordings from Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and Queen (a non-North American deal).

Last year, Pink Floyd celebrated the 50th anniversary of The Dark Side Of The Moon, and eight Aussie fans experienced the album in an incredible way they never had before.