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.
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.
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A British High Court judge has ruled against the heirs of Jimi Hendrix Experience bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell in their bid for royalties from Hendrix's catalog. Judge Edwin Johnson found that a 1966 recording agreement granted ownership to producers, now succeeded by the Hendrix estate and Sony Music. The decision ends a long-running dispute sparked in 2021.
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.
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Salt-N-Pepa have filed an appeal at the Second Circuit Court of Appeals to revive their copyright lawsuit against Universal Music Group. The duo argues that a federal judge erred in dismissing their claims over termination rights to their master recordings. Attorney Richard Busch called the lower court's decision 'riddled with error.'