Garth Brooks Weighs a Possible Sale of His Music Catalog as Sources Say the Country Star’s Publishing and Recorded Rights Could Fetch up to $2 Billion
NEW YORK, NY — Garth Brooks is considering selling his music catalog, including both his publishing and recorded-music rights, according to sources confirmed to ABC News.
The reported deal would cover a career built on some of country music’s biggest hits, from “Friends in Low Places” and “The Dance” to “We Shall Be Free” and “Shameless.”
Why the reported deal stands out
The Wall Street Journal and Billboard first reported that Brooks was weighing the move. The Journal said the catalog could be valued as high as $2 billion, which would be a record price for an artist’s music.
Brooks is the top-selling album artist in U.S. history, with 200 million album sales, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. That total puts him ahead of The Beatles, Elvis Presley and Taylor Swift.
A catalog he has guarded carefully
Brooks has spent decades keeping tight control over how his music is heard and used. For years, he largely stayed off major streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music.
He did not sign a streaming agreement with Amazon Music until 2016, when his catalog finally became available there for fans to access and stream.
What comes next for Brooks and fans
ABC News said it reached out to Brooks’ representatives for comment. No deal has been announced.
The potential sale comes after Brooks wrapped a nearly two-year residency last year at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, another reminder of how active his career remains even as his catalog draws new attention.
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