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Sony Music Publishing has announced an agreement to acquire the complete music rights portfolio of Recognition Music Group from funds managed by Blackstone in a deal valued at more than $2 billion according to industry estimates. Although the exact financial details of the acquisition were not officially disclosed, reports from Billboard and other entertainment industry sources have placed the catalog’s value in the multibillion dollar range.
The agreement marks one of the biggest music publishing acquisitions in recent years and further strengthens Sony’s position in the global music rights business. Through the deal, Sony Music Publishing will acquire Recognition’s extensive catalog, which includes ownership shares in more than 45,000 songs from some of the most successful artists in music history.
Among the major songs included in the acquisition are Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey, Under the Bridge by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac, and Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) by Beyonce.
The catalog also contains globally recognized hits such as Locked Out of Heaven by Bruno Mars, Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen, Bad Romance by Lady Gaga, Umbrella by Rihanna, and All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey. Other major songs in the deal include works by Bon Jovi, Shakira, Soundgarden, Eurythmics and Chic.
The acquisition is part of a broader partnership announced earlier this year between Sony Music Group and Singapore based investment company GIC. The partnership focuses on acquiring valuable music catalogs across international markets and genres as music rights continue to grow into a powerful investment asset.
The transaction also follows Sony Music Publishing’s acquisition of Hipgnosis Songs Group in 2025. Recognition Music Group itself has roots connected to the Hipgnosis brand, which became famous in the mid 2010s for aggressively purchasing music catalogs from major artists and songwriters. During that period, companies under the Hipgnosis umbrella reportedly spent more than $3 billion acquiring music rights and significantly increased the value of publishing catalogs across the industry.
However, the company later faced financial instability, leading Blackstone to gradually take control of various Hipgnosis assets. Blackstone first acquired Hipgnosis Songs Capital for around $800 million before later purchasing the administration division of Hipgnosis Songs Management. In April 2024, Blackstone completed another major acquisition by buying the publicly traded catalog assets of Hipgnosis Songs Fund for approximately $1.6 billion.
Sony Music Group Chairman Rob Stringer described the acquisition as a proud and exciting moment for the company, saying Sony was honored to represent some of the greatest songs in pop history. Sony Music Publishing Chairman and CEO Jon Platt added that the investment reflects the company’s belief in the enduring cultural power of great music and its commitment to protecting the legacy of timeless songs for future generations.
Meanwhile, Qasim Abbas of Blackstone stated that the transaction demonstrates growing confidence in music rights as a stable and valuable institutional asset class. Recognition Music Group CEO Ben Katovsky also praised the deal, calling it a milestone moment for the company and emphasizing the lasting value of the iconic catalog under its management.
