Sony Music Publishing Acquires ‘Complete’ Catalog of Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker

Sony Music Publishing Australia MD Damian Trotter (left) and Kevin Parker. Photo Credit: SMP

Another day, another song-rights deal: Sony Music Publishing (SMP) has acquired the “complete” catalog of Kevin Parker, who’s released four studio albums as Tame Impala.SMP today announced the purchase agreement with Sydney-born Parker, who’s worked with the publisher since 2009. While the investing party opted against disclosing the transaction’s precise financials, it did emphasize that Parker’s “achievements go far beyond Tame Impala.”

Those varied career feats include songwriting credits on tracks recorded by Rihanna, Travis Scott, Mick Jagger, Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Lady Gaga, and Kid Cudi, to name just some. Additionally, the 38-year-old penned and produced several songs (among them “Houdini” and “Illusion”) on Dua Lipa’s latest album.

Addressing the decision to cash in on his IP, Parker made clear the “love and trust” he has for SMP, the owned-and-administered catalog of which encompassed a staggering 6.24 million works as of March 31st, 2024.

“The idea of passing on ownership of my songs is one that I don’t think about very lightly, at all,” communicated Parker. “They are the fruit of my blood, sweat and creativity over all the years I’ve been a recording artist and songwriter so far.“I have a lot of love and trust for the Sony publishing family and have only had great experiences with [SMP Australia MD] Damian Trotter and the rest of the gang worldwide,” the three-time Grammy nominee proceeded. “I don’t think my songs could be in any safer hands than Sony’s, and I’m excited for the future and happy I can keep working with them on whatever the future brings…”

Earlier this week, Sony Music proper, capitalizing on a more than decade-long partnership, acquired the entire catalog of French label Wati-B. Bigger picture, 2024 has to this point delivered a number of legacy-act catalog sales, including Sony Music’s deal with the Michael Jackson estate, Pophouse’s pacts with KISS and Cyndi Lauper, and Iconic’s tie-up with Rod Stewart.

But Parker is hardly the only young professional who’s opted to sell; Litmus Music bought Katy Perry’s catalog in September of 2023 and, following something of a slowdown in this department, Anthem Entertainment kicked off 2024 with a transaction involving Beth and Luke Laird’s Creative Nation.

More broadly, the long list of non-legacy catalog sales delivered in 2023, all compiled by DMN Pro’s comprehensive Music IP Acquisition Tracker, includes but isn’t limited to Wiz Khalifa (age 36), Blackbear (33), Logic (34), Benny Blanco (36), Metro Boomin (30), Tobias Jesso Jr. (38), and Justin Bieber (30).