Universal Music Publishing Group, part of Vivendi’s Universal Music Group, on Monday unveiled the acquisition of Bob Dylan’s entire catalog of songs.
The “landmark agreement encompasses more than 600 copyrights spanning 60 years, from 1962’s cultural milestone ‘Blowin’ In The Wind’ to this year’s epic ‘Murder Most Foul’,” the music major said.
Financial terms weren’t disclosed.
UMPG chairman amd CEO Jody Gerson said: “To represent the body of work of one of the greatest songwriters of all time – whose cultural importance can’t be overstated – is both a privilege and a responsibility.” She added: “We look forward to working with Bob and the team in ensuring his artistry continues to reach and inspire generations of fans, recording artists and songwriters around the world.”
Lucian Grainge, chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group, said: “As someone who began his career in music publishing, it is with enormous pride that today we welcome Bob Dylan to the UMG family. It’s no secret that the art of songwriting is the fundamental key to all great music, nor is it a secret that Bob is one of the very greatest practitioners of that art. Brilliant and moving, inspiring and beautiful, insightful and provocative, his songs are timeless—whether they were written more than half a century ago or yesterday. It is no exaggeration to say that his vast body of work has captured the love and admiration of billions of people all around the world. I have no doubt that decades, even centuries from now, the words and music of Bob Dylan will continue to be sung and played — and cherished — everywhere.”
In 2016, Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, becoming the first songwriter to receive the distinction, with the Swedish Academy behind the honor saying he has “created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.”
Dylan’s songs have been recorded more than 6,000 times by an array of artists representing dozens of countries, cultures and music genres, Universal said. Some of his other best-known works include “The Times They Are a-Changin’,” “Like A Rolling Stone,” “Lay Lady Lay,” “Forever Young,” “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door,” “Tangled Up In Blue,” and the Academy Award-winning “Things Have Changed.”
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