Britney Spears Sells Music Catalog in Landmark $200M Deal

‘Princess of Pop’ Cashes Out: Britney Spears Sells Music Catalog in Landmark $200M Deal

LOS ANGELES — The discography that defined a generation of pop music has a new home. Pop icon Britney Spears has officially sold her stake in her extensive music catalog to the independent publishing giant Primary Wave, according to legal documents obtained by several news outlets Tuesday.

The deal, which was reportedly finalized on 30th December 2025, but kept under wraps until this week, is estimated to be valued in the ballpark of $200 million (approx £150 million). The move places Spears, 44, among an elite group of "legacy" artists—including Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and Justin Bieber—who have traded future royalties for immediate, massive payouts.

The "Landmark" Agreement

While the exact financial terms remain undisclosed in the public filings, industry sources describe the transaction as a "landmark deal" for the singer. The acquisition by Primary Wave reportedly includes Spears' share of her ownership in both her artist royalties and publishing rights.

The catalog in question features many of the most recognizable anthems in modern music history, including:

• “...Baby One More Time” and “Oops!... I Did It Again”

• “Toxic” and “Womanizer”

• “Gimme More” and “Circus”

• “Everytime” (on which Spears has a rare primary songwriting credit)

Notably, Sony Music continues to own and control the master recordings, meaning Primary Wave has likely acquired Spears' personal stream of income rather than the physical tapes themselves.

Securing Financial Agency

The sale marks a definitive new chapter in Spears' journey toward total autonomy. Since the termination of her 13-year conservatorship in late 2021, the singer has been meticulous about reclaiming her financial and personal agency.

“Britney is very happy with the sale,” a source close to the singer told TMZ. “It allows her to focus on her personal life and her children without the pressure of managing a vast business empire. She’s finally cashing out on her own terms.”

The $200 million windfall comes on the heels of Spears’ best-selling 2023 memoir, The Woman in Me, which highlighted the trauma she experienced while her father, Jamie Spears, controlled her multi-million dollar estate.

“I Will Never Perform in the U.S. Again”

The timing of the sale aligns with Spears’ recent, cryptic updates regarding her future as a performer. In an Instagram post shared in January, the singer dampened hopes for a domestic comeback, stating she would “never perform in the U.S. again for extremely sensitive reasons.”

However, she teased a potential future elsewhere, expressing a wish to perform a "scaled-back" set, sitting on a stool with a rose in her hair, alongside her sons in the UK and Australia. By liquidating her catalog, Spears effectively secures her financial future regardless of whether she ever steps foot on a concert stage again.

The Primary Wave Factor

Primary Wave, which also manages the estates of Whitney Houston and Prince, is known for its aggressive marketing of legacy acts through film, television, and advertising syncs. Fans can likely expect to hear Spears’ hits more frequently in high-end commercials and biographical projects as the publisher looks to maximize its nine-figure investment.

As the "Princess of Pop" celebrates the deal by spending time with her sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James, the industry is watching closely to see who will be the next major star to treat their art as a blue-chip financial asset.