Sell your masters
The short answer
You can sell all of your masters, sell a share of them, or license them for a fixed term in exchange for an advance and keep ownership. A buyer pays for the future income of the recordings, so the price depends on what they earn today, how stable that income is and how clean your paperwork is. We prepare the catalog, take it to qualified buyers under NDA and negotiate for you.
What a master is, and what you are really selling
A master is the original sound recording of a track. Whoever owns the master earns the income the recording generates: streaming, downloads, physical sales, sync licences for film, TV and advertising, and neighbouring rights when the recording is played on radio or in public. The song itself is a separate right, owned by the songwriters and publishers.
When you sell masters, you transfer that recording income to the buyer, usually forever and worldwide. There are several ways to do it:
- Full sale: you transfer 100% of the masters and the future income. You get the largest single payment and a clean exit, but you stop earning from those recordings.
- Partial sale: you sell a percentage, for example half, and keep the rest. You receive cash today and keep a share of the income and a say in how the catalog is used.
- Licence advance: you keep ownership and license the recordings for a fixed term of 5, 10, 15, 20 or 25 years in exchange for an upfront advance. The rights come back to you at the end of the term.
- Keep: you do nothing and continue to collect the income.
If you want money now but do not want to give up your recordings for good, a distribution licence advance is often worth comparing side by side with a sale.
How a master sale works with us
- Confidential call. We talk about your goals, your recordings and any contracts that affect them. We can sign an NDA before you share anything.
- Document review. You send your distributor statements, any label or distribution agreements, and your track list with ISRC codes.
- Valuation range. We analyse the income by track, platform and territory and give you a realistic range for a sale, a partial sale and a licence advance. Never a guaranteed figure.
- Preparation. We build an anonymised teaser and an organised data room, so buyers can make firm offers quickly and with fewer conditions.
- Competitive process. We approach the right buyers and capital partners from our network of 40+ in 15 countries and compare offers on price, structure and terms.
- Negotiation and closing. We negotiate the offer you choose, work with your lawyer on the contract and coordinate the transfer with your distributor so income moves cleanly to the buyer.
Full sale, partial sale, licence advance or keep
| Full sale | Partial sale | Licence advance | Keep | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ownership | Transferred to the buyer | Shared with the buyer | Stays with you | Stays with you |
| Cash today | The largest single payment | Proportional to the share sold | An advance, usually less than a full sale | None |
| Future streaming income | Goes to the buyer | Split by ownership share | Goes to the licensee during the term | Stays with you |
| What happens at the end | Nothing comes back | You keep your share | Rights return after 5 to 25 years | Not applicable |
The right option depends on your income, your plans and your contracts. We model each one with your real numbers before you choose.
Who a master sale fits
- Independent artists and labels who own their masters outright or control them through a clear agreement.
- Artists with several years of streaming history and steady income across a number of tracks.
- Estates and heirs who want to turn inherited recordings into cash and simplify administration.
- Artists still signed who own older masters outside their current deal, or whose rights have reverted.
It is usually not a fit if the label owns the masters and you only earn an artist royalty. The royalty itself can sometimes be advanced instead.
What buyers check, and what we review first
- Chain of title: proof that you own or control each recording, from the original session to today.
- Label and distribution agreements, including terms, exclusivity, options and any rights the label still holds.
- Distributor statements for the last two to three years, broken down by track, platform and territory.
- ISRC data and metadata for every track, so income can be matched and transferred without gaps.
- Samples, interpolations and featured artists, with the clearances and splits that go with them.
Related structures and guides
A sale is one option among several. These pages explain the alternatives we compare for master owners.
- Distribution licence advance Keep your masters and receive an advance for licensing them for 5 to 25 years.
- Royalty advances Get paid against future income while you stay in your current deal.
- Unrecouped deal buyouts Leave an unrecouped label or distribution deal and keep cash on top.
- Sell your music catalog: the complete guide The full process from preparation to closing, step by step.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell my masters if I am still signed to a label?
It depends on who owns them. Masters recorded under your current deal usually belong to the label, so you cannot sell those. Recordings made before or outside the deal, or rights that have reverted to you, can often be sold or licensed. We review the contract to see exactly what is yours.
Do I need to own 100% of my masters to sell?
No. You can sell the share you own, as long as the ownership is documented and any co-owners or partners are identified.
How are masters valued?
Buyers look at net income over the last few years, how stable it is, how concentrated it is in a few tracks, the age of the catalog and the quality of the documents. Every catalog is different, so we give you a range only after reviewing your statements.
What happens to my streaming income after a sale?
After closing, your distributor pays the income from the sold recordings to the buyer, according to the share sold. In a partial sale you keep receiving your share. With a licence advance the income goes to the licensee during the term and comes back to you at the end.
How long does a master sale take?
A well-prepared catalog often closes in two to four months from the first call. Missing documents, unclear ownership or third-party approvals can make it longer.
Who handles your case
Andrés Pesqueira López, Co-Founder. In the music business since 2017, he has negotiated deals with Universal, Sony Music and Ultra Music. BeatBridge has advised on more than $28M in catalog value and works with 40+ buyers and capital partners in 15 countries.
Submit your catalog
Share the basics and we will reply within 24 to 48 hours. Success-fee only, no upfront costs.
See what your masters could be worth to a buyer
A 30-minute confidential call. Bring your latest statements and we will tell you whether a sale, a partial sale or a licence advance makes more sense.
This page is general information and not legal, tax or financial advice. Every structure depends on your contracts and a review of your catalog.