Dr Dre reportedly selling catalog assets

UMG and Shamrock are finalizing the deal

Rap mogul Dr. Dre is reportedly selling his catalog assets to Universal Music and Shamrock Holdings for more than $200 million. Billboard reports that both companies are in the final stages of acquiring Dre’s artist royalties from two of his solo albums and N.W.A., along with his producer royalties, and writer’s share of his catalog that he doesn’t own publishing.

The deal will likely see Shamrock acquiring 75-90% of the catalog and UMG the remaining 10-25%. UMG would acquire the masters for The Chronic, which is set to revert to Dre from Death Row Entertainment, his share of an Aftermath/Interscope joint venture with the Top Dawg label for Kendrick Lamar releases, and possibly other assets.

The deal does not include his ownership stake in Aftermath, which is co-owned by UMG’s Interscope Records.

His assets are reported to generate $10 million annually with Dre asking for $250 million. Sources tell Billboard that asking price likely won’t be attained, but Dre will receive well above $200 million when the deal is finalized.

Dre, UMG and Shamrock have declined to comment on the matter.

Buddy Iahn
Buddy Iahn