Britney Spears has sold her ownership stake in her celebrated music catalog to Primary Wave, a powerhouse in the music publishing world known for acquiring legendary song rights. The deal includes Spears’ most defining hits, from “…Baby One More Time” and “Oops!… I Did It Again” to “I’m a Slave 4 U” and “Lucky.”
Sources say the agreement was finalized on December 30, though that date has not been officially confirmed. While the purchase price remains undisclosed, a source told TMZ it’s in the ballpark of Justin Bieber’s $200 million sale of his own catalog to Hipgnosis in 2023.
Importantly, Spears sold her ownership share, which may not represent the full rights to publishing or master recordings but does entitle Primary Wave to significant revenue streams and influence over usage.
Primary Wave continues to expand its already elite portfolio, having acquired stakes in the musical legacies of Whitney Houston, Bob Marley, Stevie Nicks, and The Notorious B.I.G. The company’s model allows artists or estates to cash out and relieve themselves of long-term administrative burdens while preserving the value of their work.
For Spears, the move marks a savvy financial step as she continues to chart her post-conservatorship life. Though she hasn’t released a full-length album since Glory in 2016, she returned to the studio for two singles: “Hold Me Closer” with Elton John in 2022 and “Mind Your Business” with will.i.am in 2023.
Since being released from her 13-year conservatorship in 2021, Spears has publicly declared she has no plans to perform in the United States again. But creatively, she hasn’t closed the door on music. This latest deal suggests she’s ready to focus on the future without the weight of managing her past catalog.