Pink Floyd have ended years of in-fighting by agreeing to sell their extensive music catalogue and branding rights to Sony Music. The game-changing $400 million deal, brings an end to a saga that has overshadowed the band’s history ever since the acrimonious split between primary songwriters Roger Waters and David Gilmour.
Under the terms, Sony acquires worldwide rights to Pink Floyd’s renowned discography, a treasure trove of classics such as ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’, and ‘The Wall.’ Songwriting royalties remain with individual band members.
The sale also includes the iconic album art Pink Floyd was renowned for, largely created by the design group Hipgnosis. Merchandising and other branding aspects are folded into the agreement.
The recording rights have been tied up for years, with multiple potential buyers scared off by Waters’ increasingly contentious anti-Israel statements. His vocal support for Russia further complicated a resolution.
While the music has endured, personal tensions took their toll. “It’s really disappointing these rather elderly gentlemen are still at loggerheads.” Mason told Rolling Stone in 2018. Gilmour was ready to move on, reportedly hoping the deal would end “the arguments that are involved with keeping it going”
With new leadership at firms previously interested, a path emerged for Sony to finally end the Pink Floyd saga with the biggest music catalogue deal in years. It remains to be seen if quiet now descends over one of rock’s most legendary, but fractured, legacies.