Catalogue
The complete collection of musical works or recordings owned or controlled by an artist, songwriter, label, or publisher.
Definition
In the music industry, a catalogue (also spelled catalog) refers to the entire body of musical works or recordings owned or administered by a rights holder. This can be an artist's complete discography, a publisher's portfolio of songs, or a label's library of master recordings.
Music catalogues have become highly valued assets, with major acquisitions regularly making headlines. Investment firms, legacy artists, and music companies actively buy and sell catalogues as financial instruments that generate predictable income streams from royalties, licensing, and streaming.
Why It Matters
A strong catalogue is one of the most reliable revenue-generating assets in entertainment. Unlike most creative works that depreciate over time, well-known music catalogues often appreciate in value as streaming platforms expand globally and sync licensing demand grows.
For artists, building a deep catalogue provides long-term financial security through recurring royalty income. For investors and labels, catalogues represent stable, inflation-resistant assets with multiple revenue streams including streaming, radio play, sync licensing, and mechanical royalties.
Examples in Practice
A songwriter's 200-song catalogue generates $80,000 annually in royalties across streaming, radio, and sync placements — functioning as a retirement portfolio that pays dividends indefinitely.
A music investment fund acquires a legendary producer's catalogue of 500 tracks for $40 million, projecting returns through increased streaming adoption in emerging markets.
An indie label's catalogue of 2,000 recordings becomes its most valuable asset when approached by a major label for acquisition, valued at 15-20x annual net publisher share.