Key Takeaways:
- Bruce Springsteen created headlines last week when he announced the sale of his entire music catalog to Sony Music Entertainment in a rumored $500 million deal.
- Many fans are now wondering, “Why did Bruce Springsteen sell his music rights?”
Why did Bruce Springsteen sell his music ownership to many people’s questions? Here’s a look at what might have prompted the creator of Born to Run to cash in on his catalog.
Money is probably the most critical factor in the New Jersey-born artist’s decision to sell his music IP. Few people would turn down a half-billion-dollar (or larger) paycheck, especially when the amount is said to be 30 times the 20-time Grammy winner’s annual royalty payments.
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Many other legacy artists, including Stevie Nicks, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Mötley Crüe, Madonna, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, have exchanged all or a portion of their song rights for large one-time payments in 2020 and 2021.

Furthermore, the market for music IP appears to be heating up, with Sting and the David Bowie estate reportedly negotiating significant deals and multiple companies raising hundreds of millions of dollars to buy catalogs.
Another essential factor to consider when answering one of the music industry’s most frequently asked questions: Why did Bruce Springsteen sell his music ownership?
Cash, real estate, and other tangible assets are inherently easier to pass on to heirs than a complex basket of music IP, and this may have influenced the 72-year-old Springsteen’s decision to sell.
Finally, in response to the central question (Why did Bruce Springsteen sell his music rights? ), outlets such as Forbes have highlighted the tax benefits associated with the timing of the transaction.
In summary, the federal capital gains tax rate is currently 20%. (with a possible 3.8 % addition under the Affordable Care Act). However, the White House has proposed raising the rate to 43.4 percent for those earning more than $1 million.
Because of this and other potential tax-rate increases, as well as the fact that majesties are already taxed as “ordinary pay” at a comparatively substantial 37% federal rate, the deal appears to have provided several tax benefits.
Source: digitalmusicnews