Deadmau5 has reportedly secured a massive deal for his recorded music catalogue – find out more below.
The Canadian DJ and producer – real name Joel Zimmerman – has reportedly reached a deal with Create Music Group for his recorded music catalogue, which spans over 4000 releases, for a whopping US$55million.
According to a Billboard Pro report, the deal includes the publishing and master recordings of the artist’s 4,000-song catalogue, as well as his Mau5trap record label. The deal also includes interest in future releases from Deadmau5 as well as the label.
Jonathan Strauss, co-founder/CEO of Create Music Group, said in a statement per Billboard: “Now, as the stewards of Deadmau5 and Mau5trap’s legendary catalog, we inherit a legacy that changed music forever. Joel’s influence reaches far beyond sound — his mastery bridges music, gaming, and technology, inspiring a new generation to think bigger. This is more than an acquisition; it’s a responsibility.”
The deal will also reportedly see Create Music Group reissue music from Deadmau5’s discography, though further details have yet to be revealed.
Deadmau5 is now the latest high-profile musician to have sold their music catalogue in recent times. Just last month, it was reported that Red Hot Chili Peppers were seeking to sell their recorded music catalogue for US$350million. Sources claim they may have already locked in a deal with Warner for the masters catalogue, though this has yet to be confirmed.
They follow in the footsteps of Pink Floyd, Queen, Kiss and Tame Impala. Pink Floyd sold their catalogue to Sony in October for $400million, while Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker has sold all past and future catalogue to Sony for an undisclosed sum.
Similarly, Kiss have sold their entire catalogue, brand name, likeness and IP to Swedish entertainment and music investment firm Pophouse for an undisclosed amount. To date, the most expensive catalogue in music history belongs to Queen, who sold to Sony last June for a whopping USD$1.27billion – marking the biggest acquisition of its nature ever.
