Pop superstar Britney Spears has sold the rights to her entire musical catalogue to publishing company Primary Wave for a reported $200 million (approximately ৳2,440 crore) on 30 December. The deal marks a major milestone in both Spears’ career and the growing trend of artists monetising their music rights.
Spears, who debuted in 1999, has released nine studio albums and sold over 150 million records worldwide. She achieved global fame with hits such as “…Baby One More Time”, “Oops!… I Did It Again”, and “Toxic”, which became emblematic of late-1990s and early-2000s pop music.
Following her 2022 collaboration with Elton John on “Hold Me Closer”, Spears did not release any new material. In January 2024, she confirmed that she would not be returning to the music industry, signalling a permanent retirement from her recording career.
Spears’ personal life has also been widely documented. At the age of 26, she was placed under a legal conservatorship by her father, Jamie Spears, which controlled virtually every aspect of her personal and financial life. After 13 years under this conservatorship, she regained her freedom in 2021. In 2023, Spears published her memoir, The Woman in Me, recounting her 13-year struggle for autonomy and control over her life and career.
Primary Wave, founded two decades ago by music executive Lawrence Mestel, began by acquiring 50% of Kurt Cobain’s music rights. The company has since amassed a catalogue that includes works by artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Justin Bieber, Justin Timberlake, and Shakira.
Below is a table of notable music rights sales by major artists:
| Artist | Buyer / Company | Year | Sale Price (USD) | Approx. Value (৳ Crore) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Britney Spears | Primary Wave | 2025 | 200 million | 2,440 |
| Bruce Springsteen | Sony Music | 2021 | 500 million | 6,100 |
| Justin Bieber | Hipgnosis Songs Capital | 2023 | 200 million | 2,440 |
The sale of her catalogue allows Spears to monetise decades of work while stepping away from the spotlight entirely. It also reflects a wider trend in the music industry, where legendary and contemporary artists are increasingly selling their song rights to gain immediate financial security and long-term royalties management.
As pop icons like Spears, Springsteen, and Bieber continue to offload rights, music publishing has become a major arena for investment, blending culture, business, and long-term revenue generation. Spears’ historic deal with Primary Wave not only cements her legacy but also underscores the evolving economics of the music industry in the 21st century.