dr Dre is reportedly facing a huge payday.
According to Billboard, the 57-year-old hip-hop mogul is preparing to sell off some of his music fortune for more than $200 million. Sources say the assets generate about $1 million annually and will be sold in two separate deals; one with Shamrock Holdings and the other with Universal Music Group. The former is said to want to buy royalties from a couple of Dre’s solo projects, his share of NWA artist royalties, his producer royalties, and the writer’s share of songs he doesn’t own a release on; These may include his 1992 debut The Chronic, which is published by Sony Music.
Shamrock’s stake in the package reportedly accounts for 75 to 90 percent of the package’s revenue, while UMG is expected to secure the remaining 10 to 25 percent. Insiders say the latter deal could include some releases, Dre’s share of Kendrick Lamar releases, and the master recordings of The Chronic, which will likely return to Dre from Death Row Entertainment sometime in August. However, sources have said that Snoop Dogg – who bought the Death Row imprint in early 2022 – could try to convince Dre. to keep the project on the label.
Billboard says the assets offered do not include Dre’s stake in Aftermath.
The deals were reportedly bought by Dre’s longtime attorney, Peter Paterno. Though the sellers were initially targeting $250 million in total, sources told TMZ the collective sale price is still “tens of millions of dollars higher than the $200 million” that Billboard reported.
dr Dre, UMG and Shamrock have yet to comment publicly on the deals.