The Beatles’ recorded music is currently controlled by Universal Music Group, as part of their PolyGram and EMI labels. Apple Corps Ltd., founded by the Beatles in 1968 and run by their business manager Neil Aspinall, owns the majority of the Beatles copyright catalogue and is responsible for intellectual property.
Apple Corps Ltd. and EMI Music Publishing, the entity that owns the rights to the majority of the Beatles’ lyrics and sheet music, entered into a joint venture in the late 1990s that put the copyright catalogue under the control of Universal Music.
As of 2017, the Beatles’ record label is now distributed by Universal Music Group, with marketing and distribution handled by Capitol Music Group/UMe/EMI. As part of the agreement, Universal Music also controls the vinyl and digital releases of the band.
For example, the 50th-anniversary release of the band’s acclaimed 1967 album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was released in 2017 through UMe/EMI.
Table of Contents
Who owns the rights to the Beatles music?
The rights to the Beatles music is owned by multiple entities. Primary ownership rests with Sony/ATV Music Publishing. This company purchased the rights to the Lennon-McCartney song catalog in 1981, and today owns the publishing rights to nearly all of the Beatles’ songs.
Additionally, EMI Music Publishing owns a small share of the publishing rights. However, sole ownership of the master recordings – which includes any physical recordings or downloads – of the Beatles’ music is held by the twenty-first century version of the Beatles’ original label, Apple Records, which underwent a name change to Apple Corps Ltd. in the late 1960s.
Other labels, including Universal Music Group, Parlophone Records, and Capitol Records, also sell the physical recordings.
Do the Beatles still get royalties?
Yes, the Beatles still earn royalties from the sale of their music to this day. As one of the most successful and influential bands of all time, their timeless music continues to generate heavy revenues, in part due to the immense popularity of streaming services.
In fact, in 2019 the group earned a record estimated $50 million in royalties and according to reports, their Apple Corp company earned around $400 million in 2018 alone. The Beatles were ahead of their time in terms of music production and copyright laws, as they were able to negotiate a solution that allowed them to receive royalties not just from songwriting, but also from their recordings and performances, which is something most artists don’t have the opportunity to do.
As such, their royalties are immense and are likely to continue for many years to come.
How much did Paul McCartney pay for the Beatles rights?
Paul McCartney paid an estimated $30 million for his rights to the Beatles catalog in 1985. His purchase included the rights to all the Beatles original recordings, music publishing rights, and most of the trademark rights associated with the Beatles.
He acquired these rights from Michael Jackson, who had purchased them from Northern Songs in the 1980s. The purchase price was the largest sum ever paid for a catalog of songs, and was seen by many at the time as an expensive vanity exercise.
McCartney, however, saw the purchase as a way to ensure that he and the other former members of the Beatles would benefit financially in the future. The purchase has provided McCartney with a steady stream of income over the years, and has been a major factor in his becoming one of the wealthiest musicians in Britain.
How much does Paul McCartney make a year in royalties?
The exact amount of money that Paul McCartney makes a year in royalties is impossible to calculate as it changes from year to year, depending on various factors such as the popularity of his music and the amount of income generated through merchandise and film/television licenses.
It has been estimated that Sir Paul’s annual royalties are in the range of tens of millions each year, depending on sources one looks at. In 2018, celebritynetworth.com estimated his earnings to be around $110 million.
This figure was made up of McCartney’s touring earnings along with recording and publishing royalties and his income from branded merchandise.
The amount that Paul McCartney earns in royalties has grown exponentially over the years due to the continued popularity of The Beatles’ music and his solo career, despite the fact it’s been more than 50 years since the band split.
This ongoing success has been attributed to his diverse range of songs that resonate with multiple generations and spans many different genres of music.
Paul McCartney is among the top earners in royalties due to his extensive back catalogue of music as well as his numerous collaborations with other artists. For example, in 2018 alone he earned millions from his album Egypt Station which achieved high levels of success in the US and worldwide.
He also worked on several collaborations which greatly contributed to his yearly royalties.
Therefore, the answer to how much money Paul McCartney makes a year in royalties is not easily determined, as it varies from year to year depending on the success of his music and brand.
Who owns George Harrison’s music?
George Harrison’s music is owned by the Harrison family, Legacy Recordings, and UMG Recordings, Inc. The Harrison family owns all of the copyrights to George’s work, including all audio recordings, lyrics, visual and audio-visual works, motion pictures, images, publishing and neighbouring rights, trademarks, and merchandise.
Legacy Recordings is also a co-owner with the Harrison family, and has access and control over certain physical, audio, and video recordings. UMG Recordings, Inc. is the digital distribution partner for George Harrison’s music, and is responsible for streaming and digital downloads of his works.
Did Paul McCartney buy back the Beatles catalog from Michael Jackson?
No, Paul McCartney did not buy back the Beatles catalog from Michael Jackson. In 1985, Jackson purchased ATV Music, the company that owned the publishing rights to the Beatles’ songs, for $47.5 million.
Following the acquisition, reports emerged that McCartney had tried to buy back the catalog from Jackson but those reports were later denied by McCartney. In 1995, Jackson sold a 50% stake in the ATV catalog, which included the Beatles songs, to Sony for a reported $95 million.
This means that Jackson retained 50% ownership of the catalog and McCartney had no further involvement. In 2016, Sony completed the purchase of the remaining 50% stake owned by Jackson, making Sony the sole owner of the Beatles catalog.
Are Beatles songs still copyrighted?
Yes, Beatles songs are still copyrighted. As of 2020, the Beatles’ original music is owned by multiple companies. EMI Music Publishing and Sony/ATV Music Publishing own the majority of the band’s rights, while several other music companies, such as Universal Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, and Pen Music Group, all own a portion of the rights, as well.
According to The Guardian, these companies are currently working to ensure the rights are properly renewed every 50 years, and the works of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison will remain copyrighted until 70 years after the songs’ authors are no longer alive.
Thus, Beatles songs are and will remain copyrighted for the foreseeable future.
Who does Paul McCartney own?
Paul McCartney owns the copyrights and publishing rights to the over 200 songs he has written as a solo artist and as a member of The Beatles. In addition, McCartney also owns MPL Communications, a music publishing and copyright company.
Through MPL Communications, he owns the rights to other works including songs from the Buddy Holly catalog, as well as songs from Wings, his 1970s band. Additionally, McCartney owns several properties in the United Kingdom and the United States, including recording studios, publishing companies, and more.
He is also a business partner in several restaurants in the United Kingdom as well.
Who owns Buddy Holly’s guitar now?
The original Fender Stratocaster that Buddy Holly used in his early career, which was famously lost when it fell out of the back of a van in 1961, has never been recovered. The Black Strat, the guitar Holly used during the remainder of his career, was auctioned off in 2013 and sold to JJ McCartney, a personal friend of Buddy Holly’s, for a whopping $450,000.
McCartney loaned the instrument to the Buddy Holly Center in Lubbock, Texas shortly after the auction, where it remains today on display in their permanent exhibit.
