Britney Spears no longer owns her music catalog after selling the rights to Primary Wave, marking another major moment in the pop star’s long and closely watched career.
The agreement, first reported by TMZ and later confirmed by multiple media outlets, Primary Wave acquires Spears’ ownership stake in its catalog, which includes many of the songs that defined pop of the late 1990s and 2000s.
Although the exact terms have not been disclosed and remain subject to strict non-disclosure agreements, sources close to the deal estimate the price to be in the nine-figure range, putting it in a range similar to Justin Bieber’s $200 million catalog sale in 2023.
The agreement was reportedly signed on December 30.
Representatives for Spears and Primary Wave declined to comment publicly on the transaction.
Among the songs now controlled by Primary Wave are global hits such as …Baby again, Oops!… I did it again, (You drive) me crazy, Lucky, Toxic, Stronger, Womanizer, Give me more, Circus, I am a 4 U slave, Overprotected, A piece of me, Until the end of the world And Every timeas well as dozens of other pieces spanning his career.
Spears holds writing credits on nearly 40 songs in her catalog, including fan favorites like Every time, Work, bitch! And Me against the musicalthough many of his biggest singles were written by collaborators.
Primary Wave is an independent music publisher and rights management company whose catalog already includes big names such as Bob Marley, Prince, Whitney Houston, Stevie Nicks, Ray Charles, Aerosmith, Def Leppard, Olivia Newton-John, Smokey Robinson and Boy George, among others.
The company also runs a talent management arm representing artists such as Melissa Etheridge, Cypress Hill and Fantasia.
While details remain limited, industry sources suggest the deal likely includes Spears’ artist royalties and publishing interests, although it is considered highly unlikely that her rights to her name and likeness will be part of the sale.
Such rights would generally require a significantly higher valuation than reported.
The sale places Spears among a growing list of high-profile artists who have profited from their catalogs in recent years, including Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Shakira, Neil Young and KISS.
For rights holders like Primary Wave, such acquisitions offer long-term opportunities in film, television, advertising and stage productions.
These possibilities already exist for Spears’ music.
A biopic based on his bestselling memoir, The woman in meis currently in development at Universal Pictures, following the book’s release in 2023.
His songs were also adapted for the Broadway jukebox musical. Once upon a time againthe premiere of which took place the same year.
Spears has largely stepped away from the music industry in recent years.
She hasn’t released a studio album since 2016 Glory and last performed in October 2018, closing its A piece of me tour at the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.
Plans for a second residency in Las Vegas, titled Dominationwere canceled in 2019, and she hasn’t returned to the stage since.
After being released from her 13-year conservatorship in 2021, Spears has maintained a relatively low public profile, although she remains active on social media.
With the catalog sale now complete, ownership of one of pop music’s most recognizable works has officially passed into new hands, even as Spears herself continues to define her relationship with fame, music and life on her own terms.
