Per Billboard, Kanye West is looking to make some major moves — he's looking at selling his publishing catalog. While no official price has been circulated, word is he could be seeking a valuation of 35 times the gross profit.
His catalog currently generates around $13.25 million in publishing royalties annually, according to a Billboard estimate, of which he receives around $5 million. Billboard reports Kanye is seeking a valuation that would offer him a $175 million payday, and Kanye's camp is seeking a “go forward publishing deal” between West and prospective buyers.
While the valuation Kanye is seeking is on the upper end of things, he's keeping in line with what other high-profile artists were offered for their catalogs — Bob Dylan’s publishing reportedly sold to UMG for 28 to 29 times the gross profit, while Billy Joel’s exploratory bid for a sale was based around a 35 times valuation (though he has yet to finalize the selling of his publishing). Justin Timberlake sold his publishing for an estimated 28 times valuation.
Even still, Billboard did caution that the search for a sale has “slowed down in recent months," which as The Fader points out, could be for any number of reasons. Maybe a buyer has been found and deal is in the works, perhaps no one is willing to purchase his catalog at his required number, or maybe he wasn't ever shopping his catalog at all, and was instead being approached by interested parties.
So far, Kanye hasn't said anything about the deal, though he's been vocal about ending his deal with Gap, his discontent with Adidas, and his future plans for his brand.