Deftones cash in on legacy with major catalog sale to WMG

According to a recent Billboard story, alternative metal icons Deftones have profited off their discography, as per theprp. According to the journal, which cites anonymous sources, Warner Music Group paid the group a “mid-to high-double-digit multiple” for the rights to different parts of their portfolio.

That multiple refers to how many times net label share and net publisher’s share (a.k.a. gross profit) can be divided into the valuation price. While publishing deals usually carry a higher multiple than master-recording royalties, that gap has been narrowing in recent years. Today, music assets generally trade — depending on the catalog’s heritage and the rights involved — in a 12- to 18-times-multiple range, though superstar artists and songwriters have been known to achieve above 20-times multiples.

The band’s co-publishing interest, writer’s royalties, and master-recording royalties are all included in the deal, according to Billboard’s sources. The band’s master recordings were already owned by Warner Music Group due to their longstanding affiliation with the label, and Warner Chappell handled the band’s internal publishing agreement. According to Billboard, one member of the band chose to keep their portion of the publishing and master recording income, even if the majority of them sold their rights.

Additionally, Billboard notes that the sale appears to have occurred in the last two years, albeit the precise date of its finalization is unknown. Over the past few years, Deftones‘ discography has grown dramatically as new fans become aware of the band thanks to a TikTok viral wave of interest. The band has become stadium headliners thanks to their growing fan base, and their back catalog has continuously risen back into the rankings. Numerous releases from the Deftones’ catalog received platinum and gold status in the US in July. Their 1997 sophomore album “Around The Fur” rose to #3 on the Billboard Hard Rock Albums chart just in December of last year. The gang has taken note of the surge in interest in everything Deftones.

We literally are bigger than we’ve ever been in our almost 30-year existence. – Chino Moreno

It’s unclear if the band was able to make money at the ideal moment. The amount of fan demand for the library, which has reached a fever pitch in the last year or so, would have been reflected in the deal’s worth.

Upcoming shows:

• Sunday, February, 01, 2026 – Hamburg, Germany – Barclays Arena
• Tuesday, February, 03, 2026 – Munich, Germany – Zenith
• Thursday, February, 05, 2026 – Łódź, Poland – Atlas Arena
• Friday, February, 06, 2026 – Berlin, Germany – Max-Schmeling-Halle
• Saturday, February, 07, 2026 – Dortmund, Germany – Westfalenhalle 1
• Monday, February, 09, 2026 – Stuttgart, Germany – Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle
• Tuesday, February, 10, 2026 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – AFAS Live
• Thursday, February, 12, 2026 – Birmingham, United Kingdom – bp pulse LIVE
• Friday, February, 13, 2026 – Glasgow, United Kingdom – OVO Hydro
• Saturday, February, 14, 2026 – Manchester, United Kingdom – Co-op Live
• Monday, February, 16, 2026 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena
• Wednesday, February, 18, 2026 – Cardiff, United Kingdom – Utilita Arena Cardiff
• Friday, February, 20, 2026 – London, United Kingdom – The O2
• Friday, March, 13, 2026 – Santiago, Chile – Lollapalooza Chile 2026
• Sunday, March, 15, 2026 – San Isidro, Argentina – Lollapalooza Argentina 2026
• Tuesday, March, 17, 2026 – Luque, Paraguay – Asunciónico 2026
• Friday, March, 20, 2026 – São Paulo, Brazil – Lollapalooza Brasil 2026
• Sunday, March, 22, 2026 – Bogotá, Colombia – Estéreo Picnic 2026
• Friday, March, 27, 2026 – Monterrey, Mexico – Tecate Pa’l Norte 2026
• Sunday, March, 29, 2026 – Mexico City, Mexico – Palacio de los Deportes
• Saturday, May, 02, 2026 – Sydney, Australia – Qudos Bank Arena
• Sunday, May, 03, 2026 – Sydney, Australia – Qudos Bank Arena
• Wednesday, May, 06, 2026 – Brisbane, Australia – Brisbane Entertainment Centre
• Thursday, May, 07, 2026 – Brisbane, Australia – Brisbane Entertainment Centre
• Saturday, May, 09, 2026 – Melbourne, Australia – Rod Laver Arena
• Sunday, May, 10, 2026 – Melbourne, Australia – Rod Laver Arena
• Wednesday, May, 13, 2026 – Auckland, New Zealand – Spark Arena
• Tuesday, August, 18, 2026 – Berlin, Germany – Parkbühne Wuhlheide
• Thursday, August, 20, 2026 – Charleville-Mézières, France – Cabaret Vert 2026
• Sunday, August, 23, 2026 – London, United Kingdom – Outbreak Fest 2026
• Tuesday, August, 25, 2026 – Dublin, Ireland – Irish Museum of Modern Art
• Thursday, August, 27, 2026 – Edinburgh, United Kingdom – Royal Highland Centre
• Friday, August, 28 to Sunday, August, 30, 2026 – Lisbon, Portugal – Meo Kalorama 2026
• Saturday, August, 29, 2026 – Saint-Cloud, France – Rock en Seine 2026
• Saturday, October, 24, 2026 – Fort Worth, TX, USA – Sick New World Texas 2026

Tickes can be purchased here.