That honestly sounds like a good deal for the buyer at first blush but can’t say I’m an expert here
afavour
I'm surprised the number is this low! Queen sold their catalogue for $1.27bn and while RHCP are clearly not on their scale I thought they were pretty high up there, especially given how long they've been active.
shwaj
Relatively small amount compared to the billions we see thrown around for AI startups a couple of years old.
perarneng
Hard to tell what the value of music will be in 5 years
mxfh
This is one of the reasons we can't have proper soundtracks in video games or non AAA TV shows anymore or re-releases of old TV-shows anymore. I just feel bad for all the pension fonds backing this Bain Capital PE joint venture who will have an off chance of making back their investments with the current state of IP and AI trends.
fraywing
Music and streaming is severely under attack from an effort/commercial viability perspective given tools like Suno[1] Not exactly saying this is the reason for their sell, but I'd imagine a lot of professional musicians are feeling the desire to exit the industry. [1] https://www.npr.org/2026/05/02/nx-s1-5804489/music-listeners...
hmokiguess
Give it away, give it away, give it away now Give it away, give it away, give it away now Give it away, give it away, give it away now I can't tell, if I'm a king pin or a pauper
liveoneggs
Every credit card rewards program will "give it away now" from now on
aidos
That does seem like less than I would expect! It always makes me a bit sad that everyone knows RHCP but less so their early stuff. Blood sugar sex magik is a funk masterpiece. Didn’t help that for years Spotify used the singles versions of the tracks so the levels were all over the place and it was basically unstreamable.
throw0101c
PSA: this article is re-reporting the original story at: > Rumours of the Chilis selling their catalogue first arose last year, with sources telling Billboard that the rockers were allegedly seeking around $350 million. Now, The Hollywood Reporter reports[1] that the band has finally made a deal with Warner Music Group, with the label paying over $300 million for all of the band’s master recordings. [1] https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/music/music-industry-news/...
neom
Re: the "low price", they'd already sold their publishing right in 2021 for $140MM, so this is the master rights they sold for 300. By comparison, Springsteen sold both his together to Sony in 2021 for $500MM.
gedy
Good for them. I have a memory of first seeing them in their video True Men Don't Kill Coyotes† around 1984? and thinking "wow these guys are terrible". In hindsight, they were very 90s and pretty ahead of their time. † https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC3j1pNXhSU
baggachipz
$300 million, all songs about California
mtoner23
Can't wait for the RHCP biopic in 2028!
trgn
Feels cheap
vondur
Wow, I just a saw a YouTube video of Flea's house for sale in the LA suburb of La Crescenta for sale. Super nice house. Strangely I also saw Steve Vai's house for sale in LA at the same time. Also super nice house.
bigbuppo
I'd rather it be WMG than IP Venture Partners Acquisition Round 7 LLC like some bands have done.
0cf8612b2e1e
Is there any write up about how these economics work? How much does the catalog generate in a year? The band must be past peak popularity, with listens continuing to decline year after year.
asdff
Now I can pirate guilt free
locusofself
I have such a love/hate with this band. They have some great songs. Great musicians. John Frusciante is one of my favorite guitarists. But they are such cheeseballs, and in the case of Anthony Kiedes, pretty creepy.
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Discussion Highlights (20 comments)
Forgeties79
That honestly sounds like a good deal for the buyer at first blush but can’t say I’m an expert here
afavour
I'm surprised the number is this low! Queen sold their catalogue for $1.27bn and while RHCP are clearly not on their scale I thought they were pretty high up there, especially given how long they've been active.
shwaj
Relatively small amount compared to the billions we see thrown around for AI startups a couple of years old.
perarneng
Hard to tell what the value of music will be in 5 years
mxfh
This is one of the reasons we can't have proper soundtracks in video games or non AAA TV shows anymore or re-releases of old TV-shows anymore. I just feel bad for all the pension fonds backing this Bain Capital PE joint venture who will have an off chance of making back their investments with the current state of IP and AI trends.
fraywing
Music and streaming is severely under attack from an effort/commercial viability perspective given tools like Suno[1] Not exactly saying this is the reason for their sell, but I'd imagine a lot of professional musicians are feeling the desire to exit the industry. [1] https://www.npr.org/2026/05/02/nx-s1-5804489/music-listeners...
hmokiguess
Give it away, give it away, give it away now Give it away, give it away, give it away now Give it away, give it away, give it away now I can't tell, if I'm a king pin or a pauper
liveoneggs
Every credit card rewards program will "give it away now" from now on
aidos
That does seem like less than I would expect! It always makes me a bit sad that everyone knows RHCP but less so their early stuff. Blood sugar sex magik is a funk masterpiece. Didn’t help that for years Spotify used the singles versions of the tracks so the levels were all over the place and it was basically unstreamable.
throw0101c
PSA: this article is re-reporting the original story at: > Rumours of the Chilis selling their catalogue first arose last year, with sources telling Billboard that the rockers were allegedly seeking around $350 million. Now, The Hollywood Reporter reports[1] that the band has finally made a deal with Warner Music Group, with the label paying over $300 million for all of the band’s master recordings. [1] https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/music/music-industry-news/...
neom
Re: the "low price", they'd already sold their publishing right in 2021 for $140MM, so this is the master rights they sold for 300. By comparison, Springsteen sold both his together to Sony in 2021 for $500MM.
gedy
Good for them. I have a memory of first seeing them in their video True Men Don't Kill Coyotes† around 1984? and thinking "wow these guys are terrible". In hindsight, they were very 90s and pretty ahead of their time. † https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC3j1pNXhSU
baggachipz
$300 million, all songs about California
mtoner23
Can't wait for the RHCP biopic in 2028!
trgn
Feels cheap
vondur
Wow, I just a saw a YouTube video of Flea's house for sale in the LA suburb of La Crescenta for sale. Super nice house. Strangely I also saw Steve Vai's house for sale in LA at the same time. Also super nice house.
bigbuppo
I'd rather it be WMG than IP Venture Partners Acquisition Round 7 LLC like some bands have done.
0cf8612b2e1e
Is there any write up about how these economics work? How much does the catalog generate in a year? The band must be past peak popularity, with listens continuing to decline year after year.
asdff
Now I can pirate guilt free
locusofself
I have such a love/hate with this band. They have some great songs. Great musicians. John Frusciante is one of my favorite guitarists. But they are such cheeseballs, and in the case of Anthony Kiedes, pretty creepy.