New York, NY — Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, a music mogul and entrepreneur, plans to reassign publishing rights for a roster of star-studded artists, including the Notorious B.I.G.’s estate, Faith Evans, Ma$e, and others. The assets are worth hundreds of millions of dollars and have appreciated significantly in recent years.
This groundbreaking move comes in the wake of a trend where artists and estates are capitalizing on the increasing value of their music catalogs. Icons like Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Genesis, and Luther Vandross have recently struck nine-figure deals by either selling or partially selling the rights to their catalogs.
While specific details regarding the reassignment remain undisclosed, insiders suggest that P. Diddy has fielded multiple multi-million dollar offers for the rights to the Bad Boy publishing catalog. In a surprising twist, he has opted to redirect these rights to the original songwriters. It is worth noting that most, though not all, of the recipients have already been identified, contacted, and have signed the requisite paperwork.
One notable recipient of this historic shift is Ma$e, a multi-platinum-selling rapper who shared the limelight with Combs on numerous tracks. Ma$e’s financial disputes with his former mentor have been a point of contention over the years. Combs claimed on the Breakfast Club last year that Ma$e owed him $3 million, a statement vehemently disputed by the rapper. In 2020, Ma$e disclosed that Combs had declined a $2 million offer for his publishing rights.
The news of this groundbreaking publishing arrangement was first made public by Ma$e’s longtime friend and collaborator, Cam’ron, in an Instagram post. In a nod to Ma$e’s original rapper name, “Murda Mase,” Cam’ron wrote about his forthcoming mixtape, “The Lost Files,” stating, “My n—a murder had to sit this one out. He just got his publishing back from Puff. Just finished the paperwork for that yesterday. Congrats @rsvpmase.”
In the 1990s, it was not uncommon for labels or label owners to claim a percentage of an artist’s publishing as part of a record deal. However, as artists and songwriters have become increasingly aware of the value of their publishing rights, this practice has waned.
A source close to Combs revealed, “Combs sees it as part of a broader goal of promoting economic empowerment for Black artists and culture.” This move underscores Combs’ commitment to empowering artists and advancing their financial interests.
P. Diddy is gearing up for the release of his new album, “The L.O.V.E. Album: Off the Grid,” scheduled for September 15. The album boasts a star-studded lineup, including collaborations with Justin Bieber, the Weeknd, Swae Lee, Mary J. Blige, and others, promising to be a major moment in the music industry.
As the music world eagerly awaits the official unveiling of this transformative initiative, P. Diddy continues to demonstrate his unwavering dedication to the advancement of artists’ rights and the empowerment of Black artists in the music industry.
Be’n Original
