After years of contentious negotiations and infighting, Pink Floyd has sold the rights to their entire music catalog, name and likeness to Sony Music for a reported $400 million.
The groundbreaking deal, which closed this week, grants Sony rights to the band’s merchandise and media spin-offs, while songwriting copyrights remain with the band members.
The British rock legends, whose seminal albums such as The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, The Wall and Atom Heart Mother have collectively sold more than 250 million records worldwide, agreed to the deal after a tumultuous period of negotiations. The band is the latest addition to Sony Music’s impressive roster, which already includes Queen, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, all of whom have sold their catalogs in the same way.
Pink Floyd’s estate has been embroiled in disputes, particularly between its remaining members, including outspoken bassist Roger Waters and guitarist-keyboardist David Gilmour. A tax dispute and Waters’ controversial political comments delayed a planned $500 million sale two years ago, leaving potential buyers like Hipgnosis, Warner Music and BMG out of the deal. Waters has stoked controversy with statements about Israel, Palestine and Ukraine, prompting BMG to cut ties with him earlier this year.
The final deal was not without complications, involving Gilmour, drummer Nick Mason and the estates of late keyboardist Richard Wright and founder Syd Barrett. Gilmour expressed relief at the sale, telling *The Washington Post* that he wanted to avoid burdening his children with the band’s legacy and that he had grown tired of managing it after nearly four decades of disputes.
While Pink Floyd continues to progress under Sony’s leadership, the band remains a cultural icon. They continue to amass millions of listeners on streaming platforms like Spotify, and their influence in music history continues. Last year the group celebrated the 50th anniversary of *The Dark Side of the Moon* with a special box set, and although their last studio album, *The Endless River*, was released in 2014, their music remains as relevant as ever.
David Gilmour, who has been touring on his Luck and Strange Tour, expressed little concern about the future use of Pink Floyd’s image, saying: ‘I’ll be dead. Who cares what anyone does?” With this monumental deal, the band closes a chapter of decades of musical legacy, leaving it to Sony Music for future generations to experience.