Music catalogs have quietly become one of the most valuable assets in entertainment — so who’s really shaping the future of music ownership? Golnar Khosrowshahi, founder and CEO of Reservoir Media, joins Billboard On The Record to break down how she built a music catalog powerhouse before the space became crowded, why music rights offer long-term, reliable value and how her team approaches acquisitions with artists, estates and families. She also discusses preserving legacy while driving cultural relevance for new generations, how licensing, film/TV and biopics impact catalog value, the role of sampling in today’s music economy and how generative AI could reshape valuations across the industry.
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Kristin Robinson:
Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Miles Davis, The Weeknd, Bob Dylan and Whitney Houston. What do all these artists have in common? They have all bought or sold part of their musical catalogs over the last few years for eye watering prices. We’re here today in New York City to learn more about why that is and where the catalog market is going in 2026. Golnar Khosrowshahi, welcome to On the Record.
Golnar Khosrowshahi:
Thank you so much for having me.
Thanks for being here. I’m really excited to have you, because I don’t know if you know this, but you were like my first ever video interview when I got to Billboard in 2021, 2022. It was Women in Music. I remember you had amazing lighting and this amazing setup. And I was, like, in my living room with like, no lights on, and I was like, “Oh my gosh, I should have prepared for this more.” So we got the lighting here now.
Okay, great to be here.
So today we’re going to talk about, like, all things catalogs. You’ve been working in this market for a very long time through Reservoir, your company, which you founded in 2007 right?
Yes.
Okay, so I want to start there actually. Let’s get some background before we head into what’s happening in the catalog market in 2026. You founded Reservoir in 2007 at a time when this was not as hot of a market as it is now. So tell me about why you decided to start your company then, and what you saw in the catalog market then that poses a great opportunity.
Keep watching for more!
