The transaction marks the latest significant music rights deal the two companies have struck together since announcing in March 2021 that they would join forces in the fast-growing market for music IP.

 

The ZZ TOP agreement includes a buyout of the band's publishing catalogue and their income from recorded royalties and performance royalties. Previously, BMG served as co-publisher and administrator of ZZ TOP's publishing catalog.

 

In 1971, Billy Gibbons (guitar, vocals), Dusty Hill (bass, keys, vocals) and Frank Beard (drums) released ZZ TOP's first album.

They would go on to release a total of 15 albums throughout the course of their 50-year career including the commercial breakthrough "Tres Hombres" (1973), platinum-certified "Degüello" (1979), gold-certified "El Loco" (1981), smash-hit diamond-certified "Eliminator" (1983), five-times-platinum-certified "Afterburner" (1985), and the platinum-certified "Recycler" (1990) and "Antenna" (1994).

 

Selling over 50 million albums worldwide, ZZ TOP have earned four gold, three platinum, two multiple-platinum album certifications, and one diamond album. Known for their distinctive look and unabashed blues-rock inspired sound, the success of the group was driven by six No. 1 rock singles and eight Top 40 hits including rock music staples "La Grange", "Tush", "Cheap Sunglasses", "Gimme All Your Lovin'", "Legs", "Got Me Under Pressure" and "Sharp Dressed Man", among many others.