The band’s legacy is undeniable, with iconic albums like “The Dark Side of the Moon” and “The Wall” cementing their place in music history. These albums have sold millions of copies worldwide, and their influence on subsequent generations of musicians is undeniable. However, the band’s internal dynamics have been a source of tension, with disagreements over creative control and financial distribution. These tensions have been exacerbated by the band members’ individual pursuits outside of music.

Popular on Variety While specifics on the deal are unclear — and reps for the group and Sony declined or did not respond to Variety’s requests for comment — if the price is on the high end, as reported by Financial Times, that means Waters’ comments have had little impact on the price tag; if the low end, as reported by Music Business Worldwide, it means he has devalued the catalog by as much as 20%. Other potential suitors were said to be underwhelmed with the catalog’s annual earnings. Key bandmembers Waters and David Gilmour (pictured above right and left, respectively, in the early 1970s), have been feuding for decades, taking public potshots at each other while recently trying to find enough common ground to close a deal.

Sony’s catalog deals are a significant part of its business model, contributing to its revenue and profitability. These deals involve licensing agreements with various content providers, granting Sony the right to distribute and sell their content on various platforms. Sony’s catalog deals are particularly important for its gaming division, which relies heavily on third-party content.

Gilmour recently told Rolling Stone that he is interested in a sale less for financial reasons than “to be rid of the decision making and the arguments that are involved with keeping it going,” which he described as “my dream.” The companies that were close to a deal with the group in 2022 — said to be Hipgnosis, Warner Music and BMG — have all had leadership changes since then (and earlier this year, BMG dropped Waters from its roster as a solo artist). Waters’ comments were a major factor in the deals falling apart, although a variety of other factors — including rising interest rates, tax issues and the sinking value of the British pound — also played a role.

,” the source added. The surviving members of the band, who are all in their 60s, are reportedly struggling to reconcile their differences and find common ground. They are reportedly facing challenges in terms of creative control, financial management, and personal relationships. The band’s manager, who has been involved in the negotiations, is reportedly facing pressure from the surviving members to make a decision.

Caught in the middle of the dispute is Mason, who said in 2018, “It’s really disappointing these rather elderly gentlemen are still at loggerheads.”