Britney Spears Sells Music Catalogue for $200 Million
Los Angeles - Pop superstar Britney Spears sold the rights to her entire music catalogue to independent music publisher Primary Wave on December 30, 2024, for approximately $200 million, according to the BBC. The sale comes after the singer stated in January 2024 that she would "never return to the music industry." Representatives for Spears declined to comment on the sale when contacted by the BBC.
Spears, 44, is known for hits such as "...Baby One More Time," "Oops!... I Did It Again," "Toxic," and "Gimme More." Primary Wave did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The sale of her catalogue comes after a protracted conservatorship that long dictated her personal and professional life, as reported by the BBC.
In other news, the world's largest social media companies are facing scrutiny in a landmark trial in California. The trial, which began in Los Angeles Superior Court, examines the mental health effects of Instagram and YouTube. Plaintiff "K.G.M." alleges that her social media addiction stemmed from the platforms being designed as "addiction machines," according to her lawyer, Mark Lanier, as reported by the BBC. Lanier argued that these companies "built machines designed to addict the brains of children, and they did it on purpose." Lawyers for Meta and YouTube countered that K.G.M.'s addiction stemmed from other issues.
Meanwhile, music streaming service Spotify reported an increase in paid subscribers, despite ongoing criticism from artists regarding royalty fees. The Swedish firm announced that paid subscribers jumped by 9 million in the last three months of 2025, reaching 290 million. This growth helped net profit rise to $1.17 billion, according to the BBC. Although Spotify stated it paid almost $11 billion to artists, criticisms remain that the platform does not pay enough to musicians for having their songs on its platform.
In international affairs, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley is on course for a third consecutive term in office, according to forecasts, as voters headed to the polls on Wednesday, as reported by The Guardian. Mottley, a strong advocate for climate action, is the country's first female leader since its independence in 1966.
Finally, Palestinians are expressing concern over new Israeli government rules regarding land registration in the West Bank. These changes, which make it easier for Israeli Jews to buy property in the illegally occupied territory, are raising fears of de facto Israeli annexation, according to Al Jazeera. The Israeli cabinet announced the decisions on Sunday.
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