Garth Brooks, one of the most iconic figures in country music with 20 number-one hits on the Billboard charts and a career spanning over three decades, is reportedly exploring a potential $2 billion sale of his music catalog, according to the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.
Details of the Potential Deal
The 64-year-old superstar is said to be in discussions with investors, with valuations for his discography ranging between $1 billion and over $2 billion. The sale would encompass both his songwriting and recorded music rights. If finalized, it would mark the largest transaction for a solo artist in history, surpassing the $1.2 billion valuation of pop icon Michael Jackson's catalog.
Throughout his 36-year career, Brooks has sold more than 200 million units in the United States alone, as reported by the Recording Industry Association of America. His extensive body of work has earned him a Kennedy Center Honor, two Grammy Awards, and the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize.
Notable Hits and Recent Releases
Among his most famous songs are the 1990 blue-collar anthem Friends in Low Places, The Dance (1990), The Thunder Rolls (1991), and the 2007 chart-topper More Than a Memory. His latest album, Time Traveler, released in 2023, achieved platinum certification this year with 1 million units sold.
Trend of Artists Selling Catalogs
Brooks's potential sale comes amid a growing trend of musicians capitalizing on their life's work. Companies like Hipgnosis Song Management and Sony Group Corporation have facilitated such deals, allowing investors to earn royalties from artists' catalogs. In 2021, Sony acquired Bruce Springsteen's catalog for $500 million, and in 2024, it purchased legendary rock band Queen's music for a reported $1.3 billion. Justin Bieber sold his catalog to Hipgnosis Song Management for $200 million in January 2023.
Personal Life and Career Highlights
Brooks shares three daughters—Taylor, 33, August, 32, and Allie, 29—with his first wife, Sandy Mahl, whom he married in 1986 and separated from in 2000. He began dating his now-wife, Trisha Yearwood, in 2000 and married her in 2005. Along with four solo headlining tours, Brooks had a successful Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, which ran from early 2023 to March 2025, featuring 72 shows and grossing $130 million.
