Bob Dylan sells entire songwriting catalogue to Universal in reported nine-figure deal

07 December 2020, 14:16 | Written by Cerys Kenneally

(News)

(Bob Dylan)

Universal Music Group has acquired Bob Dylan's entire songwriting catalogue in a deal reportedly worth nine figures.

As BBC reports, the deal is one of the largest in Universal Music Group's (UMG) history, and will see UMG collect all future income from around 600 of his songs, including songwriting royalties and control of the copyrights to each song.

The acquisition includes 600 tracks from the 79-year-old musician's career, spanning from 1962's "Blowin' In The Wind" to this year's "Murder Most Foul".

Sky News reports that a source with knowledge of the deal said the deal is worth nine figures. UMG nor Dylan's team have disclosed the total value of the deal. They also report that UMG acquired Dylan's catalogue from the musician himself.

Jody Gerson, chairman and chief executive of the company's publishing division, said, "To represent the body of work of one of the greatest songwriters of all time - whose cultural importance can't be overstated - is both a privilege and a responsibility."

In June Bob Dylan released his first new album in eight years Rough and Rowdy Ways.