Global music superstar The Weeknd has entered a historic partnership valued at over $1 billion involving his music catalog, while maintaining full creative control over his work.
The deal, reached with investment firm Lyric Capital Group, covers the singer’s music masters and publishing rights from the beginning of his career through 2025.
Unlike traditional catalog sales, the agreement is structured as a long-term business venture, allowing Abel Tesfaye and his team to remain owners and shareholders while preserving complete artistic authority.
Sources familiar with the arrangement say The Weeknd was not interested in selling his catalog outright. Instead, the partnership was designed to give him flexibility to innovate, manage, and expand the value of his music while retaining control over both publishing and master recordings.
Future releases are excluded from the deal.
Although financial details were not officially confirmed, industry reports estimate the catalog’s value at a minimum of $1 billion, placing The Weeknd among a rare group of artists whose catalogs have reached such levels. Comparable billion-dollar music deals in recent years include Queen and Michael Jackson.
The Weeknd will continue his longstanding relationship with XO and Universal Music Group, while Universal Music Publishing Group remains the administrator of his publishing catalog.
Lyric Capital, known for investing in high-profile music royalties, manages catalogs from major artists across multiple genres.
With over 120 million monthly Spotify listeners and more than $1 billion generated from his recent global tour, The Weeknd’s influence and commercial power continue to set new industry benchmarks.
The latest agreement is being viewed as a model for artist-first deals, prioritizing ownership, equity, and long-term creative freedom.
