The Weeknd Secures Major Catalogue Partnership

The Weeknd has finalised a groundbreaking catalogue partnership with Lyric Capital Group that reportedly values his music assets in the $1 billion range, establishing what representatives describe as an entirely new standard for artist equity and control.

As per Variety, the deal encompasses the Canadian artist’s music masters and publishing catalogue from inception through 2025, but crucially maintains The Weeknd’s creative control and ownership stake in the venture. Unlike traditional catalogue sales where artists typically relinquish control, this arrangement preserves Abel Tesfaye’s authority over his musical legacy while securing substantial investment.

Representatives for The Weeknd emphasised the innovative nature of the partnership, stating: “From the beginning of the meeting, it was clear to all at Lyric that Abel would not sell his catalog. He wanted to be more innovative and creative in the way we established a partnership.”

The structure includes what Lyric describes as a first-of-its-kind “Royalty Backed Note” designed to enhance the artist-friendly elements of the agreement. This approach differs significantly from conventional asset-backed securities or securitisation deals commonly seen in the music industry.

Industry sources suggest the assets were valued based on approximately $55 million in net label and publisher share, implying an 18.2 times multiple. If accurate, this positions the deal as one of the largest single-artist catalogue agreements in history, trailing only Sony Music’s $1.27 billion acquisition of the Queen catalogue in 2024.

The Weeknd’s commercial success underpins the substantial valuation. With over 120 million monthly listeners on Spotify alone, he ranks amongst the world’s most streamed artists. His ongoing ‘After Hours ‘Til Dawn’ tour recently surpassed the $1 billion mark, establishing a record for solo male artists.

Ross Cameron, Lyric’s founding and co-managing partner, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration: “From our first meeting, it was clear to me that we were sitting around the table with individuals that were going to change the way an artist thinks about his assets, music and legacy.”

The partnership excludes future releases beyond 2025, ensuring The Weeknd retains complete control over his upcoming creative output. His existing relationship with XO/Republic/Universal Music Group continues unchanged, while Universal Music Publishing Group maintains administration of his publishing catalogue.