Red Hot Chili Peppers Sell Catalog to Warner Music Group for Over $300 Million
The Red Hot Chili Peppers have sold their extensive recorded music catalog to Warner Music Group in a deal exceeding $300 million, marking a significant acquisition for WMG.
(L-R) Flea, John Frusciante, Anthony Kiedis, and Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers are seen backstage at the 2022 MTV VMAs at Prudential Center on August 28, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey.
Red Hot Chili Peppers have officially sold their recorded music catalog to Warner Music Group (WMG) for over $300 million, according to sources confirming with Billboard. This acquisition was made possible through WMG's $1.2 billion joint venture with Bain Capital, designed to secure both recorded music and publishing rights.
Billboard initially reported in February 2025 that the Chili Peppers were exploring options for their recorded catalog, seeking offers up to $350 million. While some sources suggested a deal was already in place with WMG, the final transaction had not yet occurred.
Sources indicated that the band retained ownership of their 13 studio albums and other releases under WMG in the U.S. However, it remained unclear whether the deal encompassed their initial four studio albums released by EMI in the U.S., or the rights to their name, image, and likeness.
The Hollywood Reporter first reported the execution of the sale. This followed WMG's announcement of acquiring $650 million in recorded music and publishing catalogs through the Bain joint venture.
According to Billboard estimates, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' master recording catalog generates approximately $26 million annually, primarily from WMG's portion, which includes iconic albums like Blood Sugar Sex Magik and Californication.
The sale to WMG occurred five years after the band sold its music publishing catalog to Hipgnosis for between $140 million and $150 million. Both the publishing assets and recorded music catalog were managed by the law firm Myman Greenspan Fox Rosenberg Mobster Younger & Light.
WMG declined to provide any comments regarding the acquisition. Similarly, Eric Greenspan, the lawyer who facilitated the Red Hot Chili Peppers deal, did not respond to requests for comments by press time.
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