He's one of the most revered songwriters of all time - but how much do you think Bob Dylan's songwriting catalogue is worth?
It sounds like the starting point for a heated discussion down the pub with your mates, debating the pros and cons of the 79-year-old musician's songs - but in fact, Dylan has just sold the publishing rights to his entire songbook.
The buyer was Universal Music Publishing, who paid a whopping $300 million (€248 million) for his catalogue, which spans 60 years and includes over 600 songs.
Lucian Grange, CEO of Universal said: "Brilliant and moving, inspiring and beautiful, insightful and provocative, his songs are timeless—whether they were written more than half a century ago or yesterday. I have no doubt that decades, even centuries from now, the words and music of Bob Dylan will continue to be sung and played—and cherished—everywhere.”
However, Dylan himself has not commented on the deal - or even why he chose to sell his songwriting catalogue, which includes iconic albums like 'Blood on the Tracks', 'The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan', 'The Times They Are A-Changin'' and even his most recent album, this year's 'Rough and Rowdy Ways'.
Amongst the 600 songs is The Band's song 'The Weight', which Dylan owned the copyright to - despite it being written by Robbie Robertson.
