Dylan’s entire song catalog sold
Bob Dylan’s entire catalog of songs, one of the great treasures in music history, has been acquired by Universal Music Publishing Group for an undisclosed sum.
The catalog includes such modern standards as “Blowin’ In The Wind,” “The Times They Are a-Changin’,” “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door,” and “Like a Rolling Stone,” a body of work that may only be matched by the Beatles, whose songs were re-acquired by Paul McCartney in 2017 after changing hands several times, for its breadth and influence.
Dylan topped the Rolling Stone list of the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time in 2015 and the song “Like A Rolling Stone” was named by the magazine as the best ever written.
Dylan was influenced by the bluesman Robert Johnson and folk singer, songwriter Woody Guthrie, but added a lyrical depth to his music that eventually earned him the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2016. He is the only songwriter to receive the award.
Financial terms were not disclosed Monday, but the catalog may be the most prized in the music industry. Four years ago, when Michael Jackson’s estate sold the remaining halfshare that it owned in the artist’s catalog, it fetched $750 million.
“Brilliant and moving, inspiring and beautiful, insightful and provocative, his songs are timeless whether they were written more than half a century ago or yesterday,” said Sir Lucian Grainge, CEO of Universal Music Group, in a prepared statement.
Dylan’s songs have been recorded more than 6,000 times, by various artists from dozens of countries, cultures and music genres. Notable releases include
the Byrds’ chart-topping version of “Mr. Tambourine Man,” Peter, Paul and Mary’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” and Jimi Hendrix’s reworking of “All Along the Watchtower.
Dylan has sold more than 125 million records globally.
Momoasends trident to boy with cancer:
Aquaman recently passed his trident to a 7-year-old Massachusetts boy.
Danny Sheehan from Marshfield received a gift from actor Jason Momoa after their FaceTime meeting last month.
The gifts included a trident and action figures. It was signed, “Love, Uncle Aquaman,” according to the Instagram post.
In November, a video of the 7-year-old went viral for the boy’s excitement after opening a gift of his favorite superhero, Aquaman.
“Oh my gosh, my favorite one!” Danny exclaimed. “AQUAMAAAAAAAAAAN!!!”
The video caught the attention of Momoa, who portrays the superhero in the DC Extended Universe, who then called Danny.
In 2017, Danny was diagnosed with Pineoblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer, and leptomeningeal disease, cancer in the cerebral spinal fluid.
“Can I tell you something very important?” Danny asked Momoa on the FaceTime. “I love dolphins.”
Momoa suggested he try riding on a dolphin sometime.
“I’ve never seen one before,” the 7-year-old said.
“We gotta make that happen,” the actor responded. “That’d be fun.”
Momoa hasn’t forgotten his promise.
“Can’t wait to ride on some dolphins with you Danny,” Momoa wrote.
Dec. 8 birthdays: Singer Jerry Butler is 81. Drummer Bobby Elliott is 79. Actor John Rubinstein is 74. Actor Kim Basinger is 67. Guitarist Phil Collen is 64. Actor Wendell Pierce is 57. Actor Teri Hatcher is 56. Actor David Harewood is 55. Actor Dominic Monaghan is 44. Actor Ian Somerhalder is 42. Singer Ingrid Michaelson is 41. Country singer Sam Hunt is 36.