Sony Music Publishing acquires Paul Simon song catalog

Agreement includes complete collection of Simon’s compositions across six decades

Sony Music Publishing has announced it has acquired the song catalog of the incomparable Paul Simon, one of the greatest and most celebrated singer-songwriters of all time. The milestone deal includes Simon’s classic songs spanning more than six decades, from his time as a member of Simon & Garfunkel, through his extraordinary career as a solo artist – among them, “The Sound of Silence,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “The Boxer,” “Mrs. Robinson,” “Homeward Bound,” “I Am A Rock,” “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard,” “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover,” “Still Crazy After All These Years,” “Graceland,” and many others.

Simon’s unique body of work joins a diverse collection of culture-defining catalogs represented by Sony Music Publishing, including The Beatles, Leonard Cohen, Carole King, Lieber & Stoller, Michael Jackson, Motown, Queen, Ashford & Simpson, and Stevie Wonder, among others.

“I’m pleased to have Sony Music Publishing be the custodian of my songs for the coming decades,” Simon shares. “I began my career at Columbia/Sony Records and it feels like a natural extension to be working with the Publishing side as well.”

“Paul Simon is a masterful, once-in-a-lifetime songwriter whose remarkable body of work has generated an enduring influence on our culture and consciousness,” states Jon Platt, Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Publishing. “From Simon and Garfunkel standards like ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ to solo classics such as ‘Graceland,’ Paul Simon’s music resonates deeply as a cultural touchstone for people all over the world. To represent his indelible songs is an incredible honor for Sony Music Publishing, so with tremendous pride, I welcome Paul to our family!”

“We are truly honored to now represent the music publishing catalogue of Paul Simon,” adds Rob Stringer, Chairman, Sony Music Group. “To be entrusted with his songs and recorded music is a privilege of the highest artistic order for the Sony Music Group worldwide.”

Paul Simon launched his music career as a member of Simon & Garfunkel. Beginning in 1964, the duo released five studio albums and achieved enormous success, selling over 100 million records to date. Simon and Garfunkel’s iconic recordings captivated millions in the late 1960’s and 1970’s. Paul Simon then embarked on an incredibly successful solo career, crafting innovative, genre-bending hits that received global acclaim and brought generations of music fans together. Paul’s pioneering influence as a solo artist remains a driving force behind many of today’s most popular songs. His recorded music catalog is signed to Sony Music Entertainment.

Over the course of his expansive career, Simon has received countless esteemed honors. He has won 16 GRAMMY Awards, as well as a GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award. He is also a member of The Songwriters Hall of Fame and a recipient of its Johnny Mercer Award. Additionally, Simon is a 2x inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a Kennedy Center honoree, and the first ever recipient of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Simon is also recognized for his work as a philanthropist – he is co-founder of The Children’s Health Fund, which provides access to comprehensive healthcare for children and families in underserved areas across the US. Simon has currently been involved with several environmental non-profits, most notably EO Wilson’s Half Earth Foundation.

Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsay Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, The Beach Boys, David Crosby and Linda Rondstadt have all sold portions or all of their catalogs in recent months.

Buddy Iahn
Buddy Iahn

Buddy Iahn founded The Music Universe when he decided to juxtapose his love of web design and music. As a lifelong drummer, he decided to take a hiatus from playing music to report it. The website began as a fun project in 2013 to one of the top independent news sites. Email: info@themusicuniverse.com