Legendary artist Sir Rod Stewart has recently sold the rights to his song catalog, joining the growing list of musicians making such deals. Stewart, known for hits like 'Maggie May' and 'Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?', has partnered with Iconic Artists Group, a company dedicated to preserving the legacies of iconic artists. The aim of the sale, as stated in a press release, is to expand Stewart's six-decade musical legacy to new generations of fans. The Wall Street Journal reported that Stewart sold his interests in his publishing catalog, recorded music, and some name and likeness rights to Iconic for nearly $100 million. The company has also raised $1 billion to invest in music assets of various artists. The exact value of the sale has not been disclosed by Stewart's representatives. In a statement, Stewart expressed his confidence in Iconic, stating that after 60 years in the music industry, he feels fortunate to have found partners he can trust with his life's work and future musical legacy. Irving Azoff, Chairman and CEO of Iconic, welcomed Stewart to the Iconic family and expressed excitement about the partnership. Stewart, a two-time inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, has had numerous chart-topping hits and is ranked as the 15th greatest artist of all time by Billboard. Other artists on Iconic's roster include Cher, The Beach Boys, Joe Cocker, and Nat King Cole. This news follows reports in September that Katy Perry sold the rights to her songs and albums released between 2008 and 2020 for a reported $225 million. Perry's deal included her five albums released through Capitol Records. It is worth noting that many other notable artists, such as Keith Urban, Benny Blanco, and Justin Bieber, have also sold the rights to their music over the years.
