Diddy To Give Music Publishing Rights Back To Bad Boy Records Artists
Sean “Diddy” Combs is in the process of giving back the music publishing rights to various artists who were once signed to Bad Boy Records, which are said to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
According to Variety, sources close to Combs say that the 53-year-old has “decided to reassign his Bad Boy publishing rights back to all Bad Boy artists and writers who helped build Bad Boy into the powerhouse it is today.” The Notorious B.I.G.’s estate, Ma$e, Faith Evans, The LOX, and 112 are among the artists expected to regain their publishing rights, as well as more unnamed parties formerly associated with the label.
The unexpected move comes as Diddy has lent his voice and platforms to promote “Black empowerment” within the entertainment industry and other sectors in recent years. “Combs sees it as part of a broader goal of promoting economic empowerment for Black artists and culture,” the source says.
It also notes that the executive and rap star’s decision to reassign the publishing comes in spite of several lucrative offers to purchase the Bad Boy catalog. Many of the artists who will regain their publishing rights have reportedly been notified, but others have yet to be located or contacted to sign the paperwork required to complete the process.
A number of Bad Boy artists have lashed out at Diddy regarding their publishing rights over the years, including The LOX and Ma$e, both of whom publicly blasted their former CEO for his alleged predatory business tactics. However, both acts have already revealed that they’re in the process of regaining the rights to their respective catalogs over 20 years after originally signing with the label.
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