There has never been a better time to sell out, especially if you are a superstar who owns the rights to decades of hits. Nearly half of the top 25 entertainment personalities on the earnings list, including Peter Jackson the director of “Lord of the Rings” and the rocker Bruce Springsteen, have secured a place on this list by selling all or part of their studios or music catalogs.
In December, Bruce Springsteen sold the masters and publishing rights to all of his recorded music and songs, including 11 multi-platinum albums and five gold singles, for what sources said was nearly $500 million.
The buyer was Sony Music, parent company of his longtime label, Columbia Records.
