Red Hot Chili Peppers have sold their recorded music catalogue to Warner Music Group in a deal worth more than $300 million. The transaction gives the label control over all master recordings from the band's output.
The deal was executed Friday and involves the band's 13 studio albums, including releases since 1991 when the group signed with Warner. Their catalogue generates roughly $26 million annually and had been on the market with an asking price near $350 million.
Primary Wave is in advanced talks to buy Kobalt Music Group in a transaction valued over $1 billion, according to sources. The acquisition would combine Primary Wave's nearly $6 billion portfolio with Kobalt's assets to form an independent music powerhouse exceeding $7 billion. Kobalt, the world's largest independent music publisher, has grown under recent ownership and partnerships.
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Sony Music Publishing claimed the top spot in Billboard's 2025 music publisher rankings for both the Hot 100 and Top Radio Airplay charts. The company achieved a 28.33% market share on the Hot 100 and 29.85% on Radio Airplay, driven by stakes in numerous hit songs. Warner Chappell Music ranked second on both charts.
A Broadwood upright piano used by John Lennon to compose several Beatles songs has sold for a record-breaking $3.3 million at auction. The instrument, part of The Jim Irsay Collection, exceeded expectations and set a new benchmark for Beatles memorabilia. The sale also featured Ringo Starr's first drum kit, which fetched nearly $2.4 million.
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Guitars once owned by Johnny Cash, Ace Frehley and Kirk Hammett will be sold at auction later this month in New York City. The sale also includes instruments linked to Eddie Van Halen and other musicians along with select memorabilia.