The Weeknd is Seeking $1 Billion in Financing Backed by Catalog
This would be one of the largest financing deals based on music rights in history
The Weeknd has signaled he is hoping to finance $1 billion based on the value of his catalog. If completed, the deal would use his share of publishing and recording rights as collateral.
The deal:
The deal has yet to be finalized.
Private equity firm Lyric Capital Group (Lyric) is in talks with The Weeknd. It has reached out to potential investors as well.
The proposed structure is $500 million in senior debt, $250 million in junior debt, and $250 million in equity.
Background:
Chord Music Partners owns 50% of the publishing rights for The Weeknd’s catalog.
Universal Music Group, The Weeknd’s label, is in partnership with Chord.
Lyric controls publishing rights for artists such as Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean, and Ingrid Michaelson via its ownership of Spirit Music Group.
The Weeknd has signaled he is hoping to finance $1 billion based on the value of his catalog. If completed, the deal would use his share of publishing and recording rights as collateral.
The deal:
The deal has yet to be finalized.
Private equity firm Lyric Capital Group (Lyric) is in talks with The Weeknd. It has reached out to potential investors as well.
The proposed structure is $500 million in senior debt, $250 million in junior debt, and $250 million in equity.
Background:
Chord Music Partners owns 50% of the publishing rights for The Weeknd’s catalog.
Universal Music Group, The Weeknd’s label, is in partnership with Chord.
Lyric controls publishing rights for artists such as Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean, and Ingrid Michaelson via its ownership of Spirit Music Group.
The Weeknd has signaled he is hoping to finance $1 billion based on the value of his catalog. If completed, the deal would use his share of publishing and recording rights as collateral.
The deal:
The deal has yet to be finalized.
Private equity firm Lyric Capital Group (Lyric) is in talks with The Weeknd. It has reached out to potential investors as well.
The proposed structure is $500 million in senior debt, $250 million in junior debt, and $250 million in equity.
Background:
Chord Music Partners owns 50% of the publishing rights for The Weeknd’s catalog.
Universal Music Group, The Weeknd’s label, is in partnership with Chord.
Lyric controls publishing rights for artists such as Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean, and Ingrid Michaelson via its ownership of Spirit Music Group.
The Weeknd
Lyric Capital Group
Chord Music Partners
Spirit Music Group
Tim McGraw
Jason Aldean
Ingrid Michaelson
Universal Music Group (UMG)
Music Catalog Investment Boom
Private Equity Investment In Music
Artist Catalog Valuation
Securitization Of Music Rights
Alternative Music Financing Models
Catalog Sales
Record Labels
Music Publishing
Asset-Backed Securities
Catalog Financing
United States
Canada
👋 Disclosures & Transparency Block
- This article was written with information sourced from Music Business Worldwide and Bloomberg.
- We covered it because of The Weeknd’s superstar status and because of the growing trend of private equity investing in the music industry.
📨 Subscribe to NIF
Get news dropped in your inbox 👇
📨 Subscribe to NIF
Get news dropped in your inbox 👇
Related Articles
Business & Finance
Jan 16, 2026
1 min read
BMG Introduces SYNC+ to Streamline Music-for-Media Operations
The new business offering combines commercial sync, production music, and media services
Business & Finance
Jan 15, 2026
1 min read
Frontiers Label Group Launches BLKIIBLK Records
Legendary A&R veteran Mike Gitter installed as Frontiers’ Global Head of A&R
Business & Finance
Jan 15, 2026
1 min read
Atlantic Screen Group Raises $30M for Score and Publishing Acquisitions
Corrum Capital Management has provided the investment
BMG Introduces SYNC+ to Streamline Music-for-Media Operations
The new business offering combines commercial sync, production music, and media services
Harry Levin
Business
Jan 16, 2026
Frontiers Label Group Launches BLKIIBLK Records
Legendary A&R veteran Mike Gitter installed as Frontiers’ Global Head of A&R
Rod Yates
Business
Jan 15, 2026
Atlantic Screen Group Raises $30M for Score and Publishing Acquisitions
Corrum Capital Management has provided the investment
Rod Yates
Business
Jan 15, 2026
Spotify Confirms Price Increase for US Subscriptions
Premium, family, duo, and student accounts will all be more expensive
Harry Levin
Business
Jan 15, 2026
Kustom Entertainment Sheds Healthcare Arm to Focus on Ticketing
The company has relinquished its 51% stake in Nobility Healthcare
Rod Yates
Business
Jan 14, 2026
MTV Closes Dedicated Music Channels
It will focus on reality television and pop culture programming
Rod Yates
Business
Jan 5, 2026
