How long does the catalog sale process take?

From initial valuation to completed sale, the typical timeline is 4-8 weeks. This includes the valuation and metadata audit (1-2 weeks), listing and buyer matching (1-3 weeks), negotiation and legal review (1-2 weeks), and closing and rights transfer (1 week). Complex catalogs or deals may take longer.

What documents do I need to sell my catalog?

Key documents include: proof of ownership (distributor agreements, PRO registrations), revenue documentation (streaming reports, royalty statements), a complete track listing with metadata (ISRCs, songwriter credits), and any existing licensing agreements. We guide you through gathering everything during the listing process.

What if I'm not ready to sell but want to know my catalog's value?

That's completely fine. Many artists get a valuation simply to understand their financial position. There's no obligation to list or sell. Knowing your catalog's value is useful for estate planning, tax purposes, and making informed decisions about your music career.

Independent Artists: Your Catalog Is Your Most Valuable Asset

You've been releasing music independently for years — maybe a decade or more. You own your masters, you own your publishing, and you've built a catalog that generates consistent streaming revenue. You distribute through DistroKid, TuneCore, or CD Baby, collect your own royalties, and manage your own rights. Independence has given you full ownership, but it's also given you full responsibility. You handle metadata, registrations, Content ID disputes, distributor issues, and tax accounting — on top of actually creating music. Your catalog may include 50, 200, or 500+ tracks across multiple albums, EPs, and singles. You know this catalog has real financial value, but you've never had it professionally valued, and you don't know where to begin exploring a sale or partial monetization.

Challenges you might face

●No idea what your catalog is actually worth in today's market
●Administrative burden of managing rights, royalties, and metadata across multiple platforms is overwhelming
●No professional network of music industry buyers or investors
●Uncertain about the process of selling — what does a catalog transaction actually involve?
●Worried about being taken advantage of by buyers with more industry experience
●Tax implications of a catalog sale are unclear and potentially significant
●Emotional attachment to music you've created over years makes the idea of selling daunting

How SPACE can help

●Free, transparent catalog valuation that shows you exactly how your catalog's value is calculated
●Educational resources explaining every step of the catalog sale process — no surprises
●Vetted buyer network ensures you're dealing with legitimate, experienced music industry buyers
●Deal structure options ranging from partial sales (retain some ownership) to full buyouts
●Legal review support to ensure contract terms are fair and protect your interests
●Tax guidance resources to help you understand the financial implications of different deal structures
●No-pressure exploration — get a valuation and learn about your options with no obligation to sell

Benefits

Finally understand the financial value of the catalog you've built over years of independent work

Access professional buyers and investors without needing industry connections

Negotiate from a position of knowledge with a clear, transparent valuation as your foundation

Choose the deal structure that fits your life — full sale, partial sale, or catalog loan

Reduce the administrative burden that comes with managing an extensive independent catalog

Receive fair market value for your music — protected by transparent valuation methodology and buyer vetting

Make an informed financial decision with support at every step of the process

Example scenario

An independent artist with a 350-track catalog spanning 12 years of releases was generating $15,000/year through DistroKid distribution, ASCAP performance royalties, and a handful of small sync placements. The artist had never had the catalog valued and was spending 10+ hours per week on administrative tasks. After listing on SpaceMusic.io, a metadata audit uncovered $4,500 in uncollected international mechanical royalties, which boosted the catalog's effective annual revenue to $19,500. At an 11x multiple, the catalog was valued at $214,500. The artist chose a full buyout and used the proceeds to pay off a mortgage and fund a year of full-time music creation, starting a new catalog with zero administrative baggage.

FAQ

Other creator types

The Producer Ready to Retire The Side Project Musician The Ambient Music Producer

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