Britne y Spears, the pop icon, has abruptly sold the musical legacy that symbolizes her music career. The move is expected to have greater repercussions given the sharp revelations directed at her family that came just before.
According to foreign media reports, Spears (44) signed a contract on Dec. 30 last year to transfer stakes in music copyrights that include her debut song '...Baby One More Time', 'Toxic', 'Oops!… I Did It Again', 'Gimme More' and dozens of hits spanning decades to the music publishing company Primary Wave. The exact amount was not disclosed, but local outlets even used the phrase "landmark deal."
Industry observers say the deal could be comparable to Justin Bieber's roughly $200 million catalog sale (about 30 billion won). Spears's catalog is regarded as a "modern pop goldmine," symbolized by 11 No. 1 Billboard singles since her 1999 debut, more than 30 top-10 hits and cumulative album sales of more than 100 million copies.
In particular, her songs continue to generate massive revenue, recording billions of streams on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube. As sales of legacy artists' catalogs continue, Spears appears to be reorganizing her assets as well.
This decision draws additional attention amid her recent intense remarks directed at her family. Spears wrote on social media, "I am lucky to be alive," and expressed that she is "scared" of her family. The spark of conflict has not been extinguished even after the end of the 13-year conservatorship. Her relationship with her father, Jamie Spears, who led the conservatorship, is also reported to remain tense.
According to people familiar with the matter, Spears is satisfied with the transaction and is said to be finding stability while spending time with her two sons.
Having made another major decision after wounds with her family and the shadow of the conservatorship, Britney Spears's oversized deal has drawn attention over what it will mean for the second act of her life.
[Photo] ©Gettyimages (unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited)
[OSEN]