Variety confirms that pop star Britney Spears has sold her song catalog and an unspecified set of additional rights to music investment firm Primary Wave, a development first reported by TMZ. Sources tell Variety the transfer likely took place in early 2026 and that the precise terms are subject to non-disclosure; TMZ estimates the price in the low nine figures. Representatives for Spears and Primary Wave declined to comment to Variety. The transaction appears to include publishing and artist-royalty interests, though the exact scope remains unclear.
- Deal reported in 2026: Two sources confirmed to Variety that Britney Spears sold her song catalog to Primary Wave, with TMZ first reporting the story.
- Estimated value: TMZ estimated the price in the low nine figures, though those numbers are unverified in public filings.
- Catalog composition: Spears holds songwriting credits on nearly 40 songs in the catalog, including notable tracks like “Everytime,” “Me Against the Music,” “S&M,” and “Work Bitch!”
- Rights likely included: Industry signals point to publishing and artist-royalty shares being transferred; master recordings or NIL (name/image/likeness) are not confirmed.
- Potential exploitation: The catalog could feed sync opportunities, a forthcoming biopic based on her memoir (Universal Pictures, 2024), and stage or licensing projects such as the Broadway jukebox musical that premiered in 2023.
- Performance history: Spears has not released an album since 2016’s “Glory” and last performed live in October 2018 at the Formula One Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.
- Conservatorship context: Spears was freed from a 13-year conservatorship in 2021 and has since maintained a relatively low public profile while posting intermittently on social media.
Background
Britney Spears emerged in the late 1990s as one of the era’s defining pop acts; over the following two decades her recorded works and publishing generated substantial streaming, radio, and sync demand. Although many of the songs in her catalog were not chart-topping songwriting credits, she is credited on nearly 40 tracks, including the enduring ballad “Everytime” and several fan favorites that drive catalog interest. In the past decade the market for music catalogs has grown sharply, with investors and specialty firms buying rights to secure predictable royalty streams and to exploit sync potential in film, television and new formats.
Spears’ commercial activity slowed after a series of high-profile personal and legal developments, including a planned 2019 Las Vegas residency titled “Domination” that was postponed and ultimately shelved. Her last full-length album, “Glory,” arrived in 2016, and her last live performance was October 2018 in Austin, Texas, closing the “Piece of Me” run. After her 2021 release from a 13-year conservatorship she retained control of some aspects of her career but largely stepped back from touring and major promotional activity.
Main Event
According to Variety’s reporting—based on two independent sources—and TMZ’s review of related legal documents, Spears transferred ownership of at least her publishing share and artist royalties to Primary Wave. TMZ’s summary of the documents states she sold “her ownership share of her catalog,” though the paperwork did not list a sale price. Primary Wave and Spears’ representatives both declined Variety’s request for comment, leaving key contractual specifics undisclosed.
TMZ estimated the transaction landed in the low nine-figure range, a valuation consistent with strong sync potential and the presence of recognisable titles in the catalog, but that figure is unconfirmed. Industry observers note it is unlikely that Spears’ NIL (name, image, likeness) rights were included at that price point; those rights can command separate and sometimes much higher deals depending on scope. The transfer appears to prioritize publishing and royalty streams that are straightforward to monetize through placements and licensing.
Primary Wave is known for acquiring song catalogs and actively marketing them across media platforms; potential immediate uses for Spears’ songs include placement in the authorized biopic tied to her memoir, continued stage adaptations, and curated licensing for streaming, film, and commercials. The catalog’s mix of songwriter credit, performer recognition, and existing fan engagement makes it a candidate for multi-channel exploitation even without full master or NIL inclusion.
Analysis & Implications
Catalog acquisitions remain attractive because they provide predictable revenue from streaming, radio, and synchronization fees. For a major pop act like Spears, value derives from a combination of evergreen tracks, strong streaming baselines, and recognizable hooks that music supervisors favor for film and advertising. Even songs that were not blockbuster hits can be lucrative when packaged for biopics, commercials, and localized productions, particularly given the announced Universal Pictures biopic based on her 2023 memoir “The Woman in Me.”
Primary Wave’s business model typically involves both ownership and active exploitation: they often pursue sync licensing, curated compilations, and collaborative marketing to enhance returns. If the deal does indeed include songwriting royalties and publishing shares, Primary Wave can immediately begin to monetize placements and sub-licensing. For Spears, a lump-sum sale reduces ongoing administrative burden and converts future royalty volatility into immediate capital, which may be especially relevant given her limited touring activity since 2018.
However, selling catalog shares can also limit an artist’s long-term control over how songs are used, depending on the terms retained. The absence of confirmation about NIL and master rights means important uses—such as biopic likeness licensing or direct merchandising tied to Spears’ persona—may require separate agreements. For the broader industry, this transaction underscores the continuing appetite among investors for recognizable catalogs and the premium placed on sync-friendly repertoires.
| Attribute | Britney Spears Catalog (reported) |
|---|---|
| Songwriting credits | Nearly 40 tracks |
| Estimated sale price | TMZ: low nine figures (unverified) |
| Likely transferred rights | Publishing & artist royalties (per reporting) |
The table summarizes the concrete data available from reporting: the near-40 songwriting-credit figure and TMZ’s low nine-figure estimate. Those are the principal data points that inform valuation; absent public filings we cannot verify the headline price or all components of the transfer.
Reactions & Quotes
Key stakeholders and reporting outlets responded with limited public commentary; below are short excerpts and context.
“her ownership share of her catalog”
TMZ (tabloid reporting, citing legal documents)
“I will never perform in the U.S. again because of extremely sensitive reasons but I hope to be sitting on a stool with a red rose in my hair… in the UK and AUSTRALIA very soon.”
Britney Spears (social media post)
Variety’s requests for comment were declined by representatives for both Spears and Primary Wave, leaving industry observers to infer likely deal structure from customary practices and available legal summaries. Fan reaction on social platforms has been mixed, with some viewing the move as a pragmatic monetization of legacy material and others noting concerns about long-term control of artistic works.
Unconfirmed
- The exact sale price: TMZ estimated the deal in the low nine figures but that figure is not verified in public filings.
- Scope of rights transferred: It is unconfirmed whether masters or NIL (name/image/likeness) were included; reporting suggests publishing and artist-royalty shares are more likely.
- Timing and effective date: While reported in early 2026 coverage, the precise closing date and any contingent earnouts are not publicly documented.
Bottom Line
The reported sale of Britney Spears’ catalog to Primary Wave—if it includes publishing and artist royalties—represents a conventional but significant monetization of a major pop repertoire. The near-40 songwriting credits and recognizable tracklist give the catalog commercial heft for sync and licensing, even if many individual songs were not all-time chart dominators. TMZ’s low nine-figure estimate would place the deal below the very largest catalog sales, which have reached several hundred million dollars, but still within a meaningful valuation range for a twentieth- and twenty-first-century pop catalog.
For Spears, the transaction converts future royalty flows into immediate value and allows an active rights manager to pursue placements and licensing. For the market, it reinforces continued investor appetite for established catalogs and the strategic role of biopics, stage adaptations, and global streaming as demand drivers. Observers should watch for subsequent filings or licensing notices that clarify whether masters or NIL were included and for announcements from Primary Wave about planned exploitation projects tied to the catalog.