Justin Timberlake sells entire song catalogue

nme.com:

Justin Timberlake has sold his song catalogue to Hipgnosis Song Management, in a deal that gives the company all the rights to the artist’s previously released music.Hipgnosis Song Management have bought 100 per cent of Timberlake’s rights, including to tracks like ‘SexyBack’, ‘Rock Your Body’, and ‘Can’t Stop The Feeling’.

The deal pertains to Timberlake’s publishing rights but not his recording rights, which means songs that he either wrote or co-wrote.As he wasn’t a songwriter on some of NSYNC’s best-known hits such as ‘Bye Bye Bye’ and ‘It’s Gonna Be Me’, these are not included in the sale but the majority of his solo work will be included.

The financial details of the sale have not been disclosed.In a statement (via Rolling Stone), Timberlake said: “I am excited to be partnering with [Hipgnosis’s CEO and founder] Merck [Mercuriadis] and Hipgnosis – he values artists and their creative work and has always been a strong supporter of songwriters and storytelling.

I look forward to entering this next chapter.”“Justin’s incredible catalogue will join other amazing works at Hipgnosis which we know will serve as a great steward of his work,” Mercuriadis added. “We look forward to a great partnership between Justin and Hipgnosis.”Timberlake is the latest artist to get involved in the growing music acquisition market, following fellow pop acts like Bruno Mars, who sold a portion of his catalogue last year to Warner Chappell.The same label has struck catalogue deals with Cardi B, Quincy Jones, Anderson .Paak and Saweetie, alongside the estates of George Michael and David Bowie.