Sony Music Publishing has officially announced the acquisition of Recognition Music Group’s catalog from Blackstone, giving Sony ownership of publishing catalogs from the likes of Justin Timberlake, Justin Bieber, Red Hot Chili Peppers and many more.
Terms of the sale were not disclosed, although the catalog is worth billions of dollars. Sony concluded the deal through its recently announced partnership with Singaporean company GIC. Over the years, Recognition has acquired the rights to 45,000 songs including “Don’t Stop Believing,” “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It),” “Go Your Own Way,” and “Under the Bridge” to name a few.
“We are extremely proud and excited to represent this incredible catalog of many of the greatest songs in pop history through this important acquisition,” Rob Stringer, president of Sony Music Group, said in a statement Monday.
Recognition was founded in 2018 under the name Hipgnosis Songs by music executive Merck Mercuriadis. The company was a major player in the catalog acquisition boom of early 2020, inking deals with several successful songwriters and producers along with recording artists including a $200 million deal for Bieber’s publishing catalog and over $140 million for the Chili Peppers. Blackstone, which had previously partnered with Hipgnosis to create a catalog acquisition fund, bought the company in 2024, and it was later renamed Recognition.
This wasn’t the first time Recognition and Sony had worked together on a deal. Last year, Sony also acquired Higpnosis Songs Group, the publishing company formerly known as Big Deal Music.
“Our investment in this exceptional catalog reflects our belief in the enduring power of great music – a belief that resonates deeply throughout the Sony Music Group and is shared by our partners at GIC,” John Platt, CEO of Sony Music Publishing, said in a statement. “These timeless songs continue to define culture and inspire generations, and it is an honor to champion their legacy as guardians of the next chapter.”
Qasim Abbas, senior managing director and head of international tactical opportunities at Blackstone, said the deal “provides a strong outcome for Blackstone and our investors and represents a further vote of confidence in music rights as an institutional asset class.”
As Ben Katofsky said The CEO of Recognition Music Group said in a statement: “It has been an honor to oversee such an incredible catalog. The team and I are extremely proud of what we have built at Recognition – protecting and enhancing the legacy and value of these songs while in our care. This is a landmark moment for Recognition and a testament to the enduring value of music.”
