Queen's discography is expected to break every record.
The rights to Queen's music could soon change hands for an estimated $1.1 billion, according to several senior music industry sources.
The legendary rock band is reportedly in the early stages of discussions to sell the rights to its iconic discography, Music Business Worldwide reports.
If the deal goes through, it will by far break the record for the most expensive sale of an artist's discography in history.
The record is currently held by Bruce Springsteen, who sold his discography and music publishing rights for $500 million in 2021.
If an agreement is reached, the money is expected to be split equally between the scheme that manages Freddie Mercury's estate and the band's remaining members, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon.
Several major record companies, including Universal Music Group, are competing to acquire the rights to Queen's music, along with private equity groups.
However, a complication may arise due to the fact that Disney Music Group, which holds a worldwide distribution deal with Universal Music Group, currently holds the rights to release the band's music in North America.
The commercial success of Queen's discography, which includes 15 albums, 10 live albums and two soundtracks, cannot be disputed.
Queen have sold 300 million records worldwide and had nine songs reach the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, including the number one hits "Another One Bites the Dust" and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love."
Queen's biggest hits include 'Bohemian Rhapsody', 'Under Pressure', 'Another One Bites the Dust', 'We Will Rock You', 'I Want to Break Free', 'Somebody to Love', 'We Are the Champions', 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' 'Radio Ga Ga', 'The Show Must Go on' and many more classic songs.
Queen's physical sales and streams soared after the release of the biopic "Bohemian Rhapsody" in 2018, which grossed more than $910 million worldwide on a budget of about $50 million.
Queen Productions Ltd., the company that owns the band, posted record revenues of £72.77m in 2019 and £39.19m in 2021, with almost all of the revenue coming from copyrights to Queen's music .
