Britney Spears has sold the rights to her music catalog to publisher Primary Wave, according to TMZ.
The deal, finalized on Dec. 30, transfers ownership of some of her biggest hits, including “…Baby One More Time,” “Oops! I Did It Again,” “Lucky” and “I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman.”
However futher details of the deal, including the price and the totality of what was transferred, have not be revealed. Typically these acquistion deals will include the artist’s royalties as a performing artist and any songwriting rights.
Whatever the number is that it was sold for, TMZ calls labels it a “landmark deal,” residing in the ballpark of $200M that Justin Beiber sold his for.
Since the Star Search-founded artist is not a song a songwriter on most of her biggest tracks, the bulk of her most valuable rights would stem from the recordings themselves. (Music publishing royalties are tied to a song’s composition and lyrics, whereas recorded royalties stem from the recording itself.)
Spears’ latest move joins a slate of veteran acts who have decided to forego the rights to their catalogs. Patti LaBelle, Eve, and The Estate of Biggie Smalls, previously inked deals with private music publishing companies.
The acquisition also arrives five years after Spears’ release from her controversial 13-year conservatorship. Although she recently announced that she wouldn’t perform in the United States again, Spears hasn’t sworn off making new music. In 2022, she collaborated with Elton John for the single “Hold Me Closer,” and in 2023 released “Mind Your Business” with Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am.