Sony, GIC Venture Strikes Deal to Buy Recognition Music Catalog From Blackstone — Update
By Adriano Marchese
Sony Group has agreed to acquire the full catalog of Recognition Music Group, a collection of more than 45,000 pop songs from artists ranging from Rihanna to Fleetwood Mac.
The deal, made through Sony's venture with Singapore's sovereign-wealth fund GIC, will give Sony Music Publishing ownership of works performed by Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Journey, Red Hot Chili Peppers and others.
The venture is acquiring the catalog from alternative asset manager Blackstone, which began building its presence in music rights in 2021 when it committed $1 billion to a new fund with Hipgnosis Song Management to buy large catalogs. Blackstone later backed Hipgnosis's 2024 takeover of the London-listed Hipgnosis Songs Fund, now renamed Recognition Music Group, giving the firm control of a portfolio of popular songs.
The transaction follows Sony Music Publishing's 2025 acquisition of Hipgnosis Songs Group and continues its collaboration with Recognition and Blackstone.
No financial details were disclosed on Monday, and spokespeople for Sony, Recognition and GIC said they wouldn't comment further. Blackstone wasn't immediately available for comment.
Write to Adriano Marchese at adriano.marchese@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 11, 2026 12:28 ET (16:28 GMT)
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