Sony Music is making a significant move by announcing its plan to acquire the majority of Queen’s music catalog, along with several other associated rights. This acquisition will amount to a total of £1 billion (approximately $1.27 billion), as reported by Variety.
The deal, however, does not include revenue from live performances, which will remain under the control of founding members Brian May and Roger Taylor, who actively tour with singer Adam Lambert.
Sony will face challenges with the transition, as some rights remain with Disney
Notably, Queen’s music catalog is among the most valuable of the rock era, featuring timeless classics like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Another One Bites the Dust,” “Radio Ga Ga,” “39,” “Somebody to Love,” and “You’re My Best Friend.” Audience favorites such as “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions” are also included.
Nevertheless, Sony will face challenges with the transition, as some rights remain with Disney, which acquired the music group’s recorded music rights for the US and Canada in the 2000s following an initial $10 million licensing deal struck in 1991. These rights will stay with Disney indefinitely.
Moreover, the group’s current distribution deal with Universal will transfer to Sony in all territories outside the US and Canada when it expires in 2026 or 2027. Queen’s original members, May and Taylor, formed a new group after their time with the band Smile, joined by Freddie Mercury on vocals and piano, and later, John Deacon on bass.
They rapidly ascended to global fame, with each member writing a No. 1 single over the following decade: Mercury’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” May’s “We Will Rock You” in 1977, Deacon’s “Another One Bites the Dust” in 1980, and Taylor’s “Radio Ga Ga” in 1984. The band maintains its dominance as its songs consistently top charts and receive extensive airplay on the radio and at sporting events.