Musicbusinessworldwide.com
Sony Music Publishing has officially completed its acquisition of Recognition Music Group’s music rights portfolio, closing one of the largest catalog deals of the year following regulatory approvals across multiple territories.
The transaction, first announced in May, sees Sony Music Publishing take ownership of a catalog containing more than 45,000 songs. The acquisition was completed in partnership with the music rights investment venture launched earlier this year by Sony Music Group and Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, GIC.
Although financial terms were not disclosed, previous reports valued the deal at between $3.5 billion and $4 billion, making it one of the biggest music rights acquisitions in recent years.
The portfolio includes ownership interests in some of popular music’s most recognizable songs, including Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’,” Fleetwood Mac’s “Go Your Own Way,” Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” and Mariah Carey’s holiday hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”
Sony Music Publishing Chairman and CEO Jon Platt previously described the acquisition as an investment in songs that have shaped generations of listeners, emphasizing the company’s commitment to preserving and growing the value of the catalog for years to come.
The collection was assembled over several years by music executive Merck Mercuriadis and later acquired by investment firm Blackstone as part of its purchase of Hipgnosis Songs Fund in 2024. Blackstone subsequently reorganized those assets under the newly formed Recognition Music Group, led by CEO Ben Katovsky.
Despite the sale, Recognition will continue operating as a Blackstone-backed business.
The acquisition also strengthens Sony’s long-running relationship with the catalog, having already served as its publishing administrator before assuming ownership.
The deal marks Sony’s third acquisition connected to the former Hipgnosis portfolio, following its purchase of selected Recognition assets earlier this year and Sony Music Publishing’s acquisition of Hipgnosis Songs Group in 2025.
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