Music Catalog
The complete collection of musical compositions and recordings owned or controlled by an artist, publisher, or label.
Definition
A music catalog is the body of musical works owned or administered by a rights holder. It includes compositions (the underlying songs) and masters (specific recordings), each with their own copyright and revenue potential.
Catalogs range from individual artist collections to vast publishing company archives containing thousands of songs. They generate ongoing revenue through streaming, licensing, radio play, and sync placements.
Why It Matters
Catalogs represent valuable assets that generate income long after initial release. As the music industry shifts toward streaming, extensive catalogs with proven tracks provide stable, predictable revenue.
The recent wave of high-profile catalog sales demonstrates their investment value. Evergreen songs continue earning for decades, making catalogs attractive to investors, publishers, and rights management companies.
Examples in Practice
A heritage artist sells their catalog for $100 million, with the buyer projecting 30 years of streaming, sync, and mechanical royalties at current rates.
A publishing company acquires an indie label's catalog of 2000s hits, immediately licensing tracks to TV shows capitalizing on millennial nostalgia.
An artist retains their catalog and partners with a management company for sync pitching, generating $500,000 annually from placements alone.