They are the champions! Queen’s music catalog is in the process of being sold to Sony for a record-breaking megadeal worth a whopping $1.27 BILLION

Queen’s entire music catalog is currently being sold in a distribution deal worth more than $1 billion.

Sony is in the process of acquiring the rights to Queen’s entire music catalog after a long negotiation process, closing with a record-breaking mega deal worth $1.27 billion.

It was previously reported that Sony joined negotiations in February and a deal was finally and recently struck when a mystery bidder reportedly stopped at $900 million.

According to Varietythe deal includes Queen’s royalties for rights to recorded music in the United States and Canada, as well as a distribution agreement.

The ten-figure deal includes everything except live performance revenue, which founders Brian May and Roger Taylor, now in their 70s, will keep while they continue to tour under the band name with Adam Lambert.

Currently, Queen’s distribution deal is managed by Universal Music Group, but it will expire in a few years and move to Sony.

Sony is in the process of acquiring the rights to Queen’s entire music catalog, including the Freddie Mercury-penned Bohemian Rhapsody, after a lengthy negotiation process and culminating in a record-breaking mega deal worth $1.27 billion; seen in 1982

However, the rights to the recorded music still belong to Disney and will remain theirs forever – although some of the group member’s remaining royalties will go to Sony once the deal officially closes.

And similarly, Queen’s distribution deal will go to Sony in all territories outside the US and Canada when its contract with Universal Music Group expires in a few years.

Queen’s music catalog includes some of the most iconic hits in history, so it’s no surprise that the acquisition deal was more than double that of some of the other biggest music deals.

In 2021, Sony Music paid $500 million – less than half of what Queen’s sold for – to acquire Bruce Springsteen’s music catalog.

Previously, Michael Jackson’s music catalog was sold by his estate for $600 million – still behind Queen’s ten-figure deal.

Before Sony signed the dotted line on the rock band’s catalog, it was reported that a mystery bidder was involved, but stopped at $900 million.

Queen’s music catalog includes some of the most famous rock classics ever, including Bohemian Rhapsody, Another One Bites the Dust, Radio Ga Ga, 39, Somebody to Love, You’re My Best Friend.

Their biggest hits also include stadium classics We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions.

The ten-figure deal includes everything except live performance revenue, which founding members Brian May and Roger Taylor, now in their 70s, will retain while continuing to tour under the band name with Adam Lambert; seen in June 2023

It was previously reported that Sony joined negotiations in February and a deal was finally and recently struck when a mystery bidder reportedly stopped at $900 million. According to Variety, the deal includes Queen’s royalties for rights to recorded music in the United States and Canada, as well as a distribution agreement; seen in 1984

Queen’s music catalog includes some of history’s most iconic hits, so it’s no surprise that the acquisition deal was more than double that of some of the other biggest music deals; seen in 1973

Queen was originally founded in London in 1970 by May and Taylor.

They previously played together in a group called Smile with the late legend Freddie Mercury on vocals and piano.

The year after the group’s formation, John Deacon joined on bass guitar.

They later signed a recording contract with EMI and with them released Queen’s self-titled first album in 1973.

The group scored several hits and charted in Britain with Seven Seas of Rhye and Killer Queen.

However, their big break came in 1975 when they released the iconic Mercury-penned hit single Bohemian Rhapsody.

After the symphonic success of that song, they rose to fame and became one of the biggest, best-known groups in the world.

Over the next ten years, each member wrote a number 1 single.

Queen was originally founded in London in 1970 by May and Taylor. They previously played together in a group called Smile with the late legend Freddie Mercury on vocals and piano. The year after the group’s formation, John Deacon joined on bass guitar; seen in 1981

May and Taylor will retain the rights to the performance income, as they have continued to tour with Adam Lambert in their 70s

Over the next decade, following the group’s formation and the release of the Mercury-penned Bohemian Rhapsody, each member wrote a No. 1 single. Taylor, Queen’s drummer, wrote their big hit Radio Ga Ga in 1984; seen in May 2023

In addition to Mercury’s Bohemian Rhapsody, May wrote their 1977 hit We Will Rock You.

Deacon wrote their 1980 song Another One Bites the Dust, and Taylor was the genius behind 1984’s Radio Ga Ga.

They continued to perform in major stadiums around the world until Mercury contracted the AIDS virus in 1991 and tragically died from complications due to the disease.

Queen’s legacy lives on today as their music receives widespread airplay on radio and at sporting events.