The past few years have seen a number of deals struck for rights to music by iconic rock artists.
In January 2022, for example, Warner Music Group, via its Warner Chappell Music subsidiary, acquired the global music publishing rights to David Bowie’s song catalog for more than $250 million.
In December 2021, Bruce Springsteen sold both his masters, and publishing rights to Sony Music Group in a deal worth $550 million-plus.
Now, a 10% stake in the music of iconic British rock band Led Zeppelin is up for sale.
Peter Grant owned a 20% stake of the “rights” of Led Zeppelin’s music. His children Helen and Warren Grant each inherited 10% of that stake after their father’s death in 1995. Now Helen is selling her share. The news of the sale was first broke by London’s The Times in an interview with Helen.
London-based New Media Law is the firm handling the sale. Speaking with MBW on Monday, the firm’s Ian Penman confirmed that the deal includes a share of recorded music rights, publishing rights as well as a stake in the rights to the band’s trademarks including name and logo.
That stake is being sold by Helen Grant, the daughter of the band’s former manager, Peter Grant. The news was first reported by The Times on Monday (July 10), in an interview with Helen Grant.
MBW understands that amongst the companies who approached Helen Grant for a deal prior to going public with the sale was Irving Azoff’s Iconic Artists Group, and that a number of other players have since made offers.
Source: Musicbusinessworldwide
Led Zeppelin News adds that, “corporate filings suggest that United Blag Productions was originally split between the four Led Zeppelin band members who each owned 22.5% of the company, and Peter Grant, who owned 10%”.
Speaking with MBW on Monday, New Media Law’s Ian Penman says that Helen Grant “considered selling the rights earlier this year,” and that “a mutual friend suggested to her that she might need the service of a lawyer to help her.” He added: “Fortuitously he recommended me”.
