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37th annual rock roll hall of fame induction ceremony inside 3
Photo Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Dr. Dre Reaching Deal To Sell His Catalog for $200-Plus Million

Dr. Dre is approaching self-made billionaire status, reportedly selling his music assets and several income streams in separate deals.

Super producer, rapper and music mogul, Dr. Dre, is closing in on yet another lucrative music deal. The Aftermath Entertainment founder, 57, is reportedly selling his music assets in two separate deals – one with Universal Music Group and the other with Shamrock Holdings. A portion of Dre's assets would be sold for over $200 million, while sources say that his assets generate about $10 million annually, per Variety.

Shamrock Holdings is said to be interested in purchasing royalties in a couple of Dre's solo projects – which includes his 1992 debut The Chronic, 1999's 2001 and 2015's Compton –  along with his share of N.W.A. artist royalties, his producer royalties, and the writer’s share of the songs where he doesn’t own publishing. Shamrock’s portion of the deal will reportedly acquire 75 to 90 percent of the revenue, while UMG will receive the remaining 10 to 25 percent. According to Billboard, the offered assets don't include Dre's ownership of Aftermath.

As the latter deal includes some publishing, UMG may secure Dre's share of Kendrick Lamar's music, along with master recordings of The Chronic, from Death Row Entertainment, which is now under the ownership of Snoop Dogg. Snoop, who performed alongside Dre, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent and Anderson .Paak during the 2022 Super Bowl halftime show, may attempt to convince Dre to keep his debut LP on the label. Dre received a massive payday in the last decade for his share of Apple and Beats Electronics, although $200 million was slashed from his initial offer for claiming to be "the first billionaire in hip-hop."