One of his classic songs is called The Man Who Sold The World – and now David Bowie’s estate is considering selling his songwriting catalogue for a reported sum of £150million.
Talks are said to be underway for a deal which would include the rights of songs such as Life On Mars, Ashes To Ashes, and others.
According to the Financial Times the potential deal could be announced within the next weeks. It would span decades of a career that began back in 1967.
Bowie’s career spanned the years 1967 to 2016 and he had a steady stream if hits throughout.
The company that purchases his back catalogue will have the opportunity to access works from the 50-year-old career of the Brixton singer.
Bowie’s music would be sold to a private firm, which would have the rights to license the songs to TV and film usage
Bowie’s catalogue is predicted to continue to generate revenue for years because the music is streamed, played on the radio and used in films and advertisements.
Songwriting collections of popular musicians have become high-value assets, with Neil Young, Bob Dylan and Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks all having sold their catalogues for nine-figure sums in the past year.
It is unknown which firms are bidding on Bowie.
Bowie’s eclectic fashion tastes and ability to push boundaries made them an icon in music.
The deal comes after Bowie and Iman, his second wife, signed a long-term licensing agreement with Warner Music last month
Bowie, who died from cancer in 2016, did not release his final album Lazarus, which he recorded when he was facing his own death.
Hipgnosis Songs Fund in the UK is however keen to invest into work by classic songwriters.
Last year it spent £720million buying 84 catalogues.
Hipgnosis founder Merck Mercuriadis, 58, said: ‘Great, proven songs have predictable, reliable income. It is better than gold or oil.’
Following a long-term licensing arrangement between his estate, which was left behind to his second wife Iman and his two children, and Warner Music last week, a deal would be made for Bowie’s rights.