Variety reports:
After months of negotiations, BMG has acquired the entire recorded-music catalog of Mötley Crüe in a deal sources say is valued at approximately $150 million, although other sources cited a significantly lower number.
The agreement includes the iconic band’s entire recorded output spanning their 40-year career totaling nine studio albums from their 1981 debut, Too Fast for Love, through the latest release in 2008, Saints of Los Angeles, as well as several platinum-selling live albums and compilation sets. Longtime manager Allen Kovac helped the band acquire the catalog from Elektra Records, which signed it in 1982, as part of a contract renegotiation during the 1990s…
…The band’s catalog has been revitalized since the 2019 Netflix biopic The Dirt introduced it to a new generation of fans. Sources say the deal was originally expected to go to Merck Mercuriadis’ Hipgnosis Songs, which has acquired many of the group’s publishing rights from Sixx, its main songwriter.
The band released a statement that reads, “It feels amazing to be collaborating with our new partners at BMG. Their extensive track record of success in rock made them the perfect home to continue preserving and growing our musical legacy, ensuring we always stay at the top…”
…Said BMG CEO Hartwig Masuch, “This is more than just a significant transaction. It’s a new chapter for an extraordinary catalog. Few bands understand the myth and the magic of rock like Mötley Crüe do. In an increasingly competitive rights acquisition market, artists need to be convinced that a buyer will do the right thing with their work. I am delighted that Mötley Crüe have decided BMG will be the best custodians of their musical career…”
…BMG currently represents or owns rights in many of hard rock’s most elite and ground-breaking artists including Black Sabbath, Dio, Iron Maiden, Motörhead, Scorpions, Uriah Heep and many of the artists who reflect their legacy, including Godsmack, Slash, and Bring Me the Horizon.
BMG Senior VP of Catalog Recordings Michael Kachko said, “Mötley Crüe stand among the pantheon of rock legends, the band’s legacy is tremendous and their fans avid. You can be sure that we will lavish all the respect and love for the music that BMG is recognized for to deliver current and future fans the best experience we can.”
Read more at Variety.
25 Responses
I could care less about the hall of shame , who’s in who’s not – Dana , your right on the money with your assessments both on crue and the Hof-
Robert,
I agree, at this point, I think it’s better NOT to be inducted into that sham of a Hall. However, as a Priest fan, the shunning itself, is disgusting.
You could create an entire new Hall of Fame with singers and bands that have been snubbed, and it would be amazingly cool. But back to the article, I’m just proud and amazed that Motley has survived as an entity. With all the accidents, scandals, and some musical missteps, no one would have thought they could last this long and sell their music for millions of dollars. Only in America, as Don King would say.
That’s true, I am especially happy for Mars, because of his health issues.
It’s time for eddie trunks rock n roll hall of fame ! 2021
Inductee # 1 judas priest with KK downing
Who else ?
We can have sub categories and these would be the initial inductees:
Influencers: AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Led Zeppelin, KISS, Deep Purple, Montrose, Van Halen, Thin Lizzy, UFO and Scorpions.
British bangers (and mash): Def Leppard, Iron Maiden, Motörhead, Whitesnake.
Pop/Glam/All stars: Bon Jovi, Poison, Ratt, Mötley Crüe, Dokken
Sleazy peasy: L.A. Guns, Guns N’ Roses
Rock with a side of blues: Tesla
Solo: Dio, David Lee Roth, Ozzy
Guitar Gods: Randy Rhoads, EVH, Hendrix, Blackmore, Page, Lynch Sykes and Nugent.
Oh snap! Dana, you left out KISS! Snubbed once again!
No, I didn’t they were on my list, but they got accidentally deleted, when I moved my cursor and then forgot to put then back on the list..Thank you, they are back where they were.
Richie Sambora sold the rights to his almost 200-song catalog to song-acquisition investment company Hipgnosis Songs Fund. The rockers are cashing in their 401K’s. I’m curious to see how much say the artists have, when approached to use their song in a Dorito’s commercial. I wish them the best though, cause they did write some killer riffs. They made it through the 80’s alive and in one piece, and there’s something to be said for that alone.
T,
I totally get wanting to cash in, but the commercializing of these songs that I grew up with, always make me cringe. When I heard The Hellion on that car TV ad, ugh….LOL!
I’d still rather hear “The Hellion” as opposed to Yo Yo Yo (eye roll) “The Hellion” grabs my attention, Yo Yo Yo loses it…