The Weeknd Secures $1B Catalog Deal with Lyric Capital

Canadian singer Abel Tesfaye, known professionally as The Weeknd, has finalized a pioneering partnership with New York-based Lyric Capital Group, securing an investment in his music catalog from the start of his career through 2025 while retaining full creative control and ownership stakes. The deal, confirmed by representatives on December 13, marks a departure from traditional catalog sales and is reportedly valued at around $1 billion, positioning it among the largest single-artist transactions in music history.

Unlike conventional agreements where artists often relinquish rights to investors, this joint venture structures Lyric's involvement as a collaborative investment model. The Weeknd and his team remain shareholders in the new entity, preserving their authority over both publishing rights and master recordings included in the arrangement. "From the beginning of the meeting, it was clear to all at Lyric that Abel would not sell his catalog," a representative for The Weeknd said. "He wanted to be more innovative and creative in the way we established a partnership. To that end, through this venture, we constructed and launched a new business model with Abel and his...