The Weeknd Locks In Billion-Dollar Catalog Deal—Without Selling His Soul
Written by b87fm on 12/17/2025
The Weeknd, born Abel Tesfaye, has pulled off one of the most consequential power moves in modern music—and he did it without giving up ownership.
The global superstar has entered a groundbreaking partnership with Lyric Capital Group that values his music catalog at a reported $1 billion. Unlike traditional catalog deals, this is not a sell-off. It’s a buy-in.
According to Variety, Tesfaye and his team will retain creative control and ownership, remaining shareholders in the catalog rather than cashing out entirely. The deal covers his masters and publishing from the beginning of his career through 2025, excluding future releases.
“From the beginning of the meeting, it was clear to all at Lyric that Abel would not sell his catalog,” a representative told Variety. “He wanted to be more innovative and creative in the way we established a partnership.”
Lyric Capital’s founding and co-managing partner Ross Cameron echoed that sentiment.
“I couldn’t be more excited about what Lyric, Abel, and his team have created together,” Cameron said. “It was immediately clear we were sitting with people who are going to change how artists think about their assets, their music, and their legacy.”
Under the agreement, The Weeknd will continue releasing new music through XO/Republic/Universal Music Group, while Universal Music Publishing Group will maintain administration of his publishing catalog.
While Tesfaye has not publicly confirmed the deal’s financial terms, industry analysts at Billboard and Bloomberg estimate the valuation based on roughly $55 million in annual net label and publishing income, placing it among the largest catalog deals ever—particularly for a contemporary artist.
The numbers support the valuation. The Weeknd boasts more than 120 million monthly listeners on Spotify and generated over $1 billion in ticket sales from his After Hours ’Til Dawn Tour, the highest-grossing tour ever by a solo male artist.
With this move, Tesfaye joins an elite tier of artists whose catalogs rival legacy icons like Michael Jackson, whose music assets were valued at approximately $1.25 billion in a recent acquisition.
“Through this venture, we launched a new business model,” a Lyric representative said. “Abel and his team now have the freedom to execute their creative vision with full control over both publishing and masters. This deal sets a new standard for artist equity and ownership.”
In an industry long defined by artists giving up rights for short-term gains, The Weeknd just rewrote the rules.
