Episode
How Michael Jackson Bought the Beatles (and Why It Still Matters)
- Podcast
- Tape Spaghetti
- Published
- Jan 13, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 4564
- Processing state
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Summary
Why are music's biggest megastars cashing out their catalogs for jaw-dropping sums—and who’s buying? If you've ever seen a headline like “Queen sells catalog for $1.27B” and wondered "…how does that even work?" – this episode's for you. Scott and Blake break down the recent gold rush of music rights sales, including the acquisitions of Bieber, Dylan, and Springsteen's oeuvres. They also turn back the clock to some legendary/infamous cases of royalty bonanzas. Little Richard got fleeced. David Bowie sold "Bowie Bonds." And after the drama of the Beatles' publishing saga, Paul McCartney set the King of Pop on a path to buy the crown jewels. From copyright basics to the present day money grabs of Primary Wave and private equity, this one is a financial thriller where great tunes are the principal currency.