What is Sony/ATV?

Sony/ATV, officially known as Sony/ATV Music Publishing, was one of the largest music publishing companies in the world. It was a joint venture between Sony Corporation and the estate of Michael Jackson.

Sony/ATV focused on music publishing rather than recorded music. This means it managed the rights to songs themselves—such as lyrics and compositions—rather than the recordings of those songs. The company handled licensing, royalty collection, and administration for songwriters and composers.

The catalog of Sony/ATV included millions of songs across many genres and decades. One of its most famous assets was ownership of the ATV catalog, which included songs by The Beatles, making it one of the most valuable publishing catalogs in the industry.

In 2016, Sony acquired full ownership of Sony/ATV and later rebranded the company as Sony Music Publishing. The company continues to operate as a major global music publisher, representing songwriters and managing song rights worldwide.

Today, Sony Music Publishing plays a key role in the music industry by managing publishing rights, licensing songs for use in film, television, and media, and ensuring that songwriters receive royalties for their work.