Louder: Bob Dylan Sells His Songwriting Catalog in Blockbuster Deal

December 11, 2020

By Caryn Ganz

Pop Music Editor

I had promised to hype our year-end lists this week in Louder, but that was before this week happened. It started with massive news: Ben Sisario reported that Bob Dylan sold his songwriting catalog at a price estimated north of $300 million. Then, a delightful surprise: Our art editor Barbara Graustark revisited her 1980 interviews with John Lennon (conducted just after he concluded a five-year period of intense isolation) on the 40th anniversary of his death. Next, another surprise: Taylor Swift announced a new album, “Evermore,” that’s an aesthetic continuation of “Folklore” (Jon Pareles reviewed it here).

And today we also published a very serious story: Katie Benner and Melena Ryzik reported on FKA twigs filing a lawsuit against Shia LaBeouf, accusing the actor of abusing her physically, emotionally and mentally in a relationship that lasted just short of a year. “I don’t think people would ever think that it would happen to me,” she said. “But I think that’s the thing. It can happen to anybody.”

In addition, Giovanni Russonello wrote about an album of outtakes from the Dave Brubeck Quartet’s “Time Out” sessions that reveals a lot about the making of that landmark LP and Jon Caramanica reviewed the latest from Shawn Mendes; we brought you 20 new holiday albums you may want to add to your seasonal playlists (or not); and our chief classical music critic Anthony Tommasini explained why he’s not letting go of his 4,000 CDs.

I’m focusing on these exceptional stories right now. And the best of the year … next week.

Chris Pizzello/Associated Press

Bob Dylan Sells His Songwriting Catalog in Blockbuster Deal

Universal Music purchased his entire songwriting catalog of more than 600 songs in what may be the biggest acquisition ever of a single act’s publishing rights.

By Ben Sisario

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FKA twigs Sues Shia LaBeouf, Citing ‘Relentless’ Abusive Relationship

The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles by the musician, accuses the actor of sexual battery, assault and infliction of emotional distress.

By Katie Benner and Melena Ryzik

Bob Gruen

For John Lennon, Isolation Had a Silver Lining

Forty years after the musician’s death, a writer revisits conversations with the former Beatle about the long period of seclusion and self-reflection that inspired his breakthrough as a solo artist, and as a human being.

By Barbara Graustark

Beth Garrabrant

Album Review

‘Evermore,’ Taylor Swift’s ‘Folklore’ Sequel, Is a Journey Deeper Inward

The singer and songwriter’s July album traded glossy sheen for an acoustic-Minimalistic palette. A second album with the same collaborators moves even further from her pop past.

By Jon Pareles

THE CRITICS

Critic’s Pick

‘Take Five’ Is Impeccable. ‘Time Outtakes’ Shows How Dave Brubeck Made It.

An album of previously unheard recordings from the “Time Out” sessions in 1959 reveals the making of a masterpiece.

By Giovanni Russonello

The Playlist

Gwen Stefani’s Ska-Pop Flashback, and 10 More New Songs

Hear tracks by Sturgill Simpson, John Carpenter, Elle King and others.

By Jon Pareles, Jon Caramanica, Giovanni Russonello and Lindsay Zoladz

Album Review

Shawn Mendes, the Lonely, Uncertain Pop Heartthrob

On “Wonder,” an album of largely bland pop-rock, the 22-year-old sings about the solitude of stardom.

By Jon Caramanica

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20 Albums That Put a New Spin on the Holidays

Standards? Sure! But a crop of seasonal records from Dolly Parton, Tinashe and others introduce fresh original songs, too.

By Jon Pareles, Jon Caramanica, Giovanni Russonello and Lindsay Zoladz

MOVIES

What Hearing Loss Feels Like in ‘Sound of Metal’

The director Darius Marder and the sound designer Nicolas Becker went to great lengths to put viewers inside the head of a musician going deaf.

By Mekado Murphy

‘The Bee Gees’ Review: Night Fever, for Decades

The documentary “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart,” from Frank Marshall, strives to paint a wider picture of the band often associated with its disco hits.

By Natalia Winkelman

‘A Dog Called Money’ Review: Lyrical Encounters With PJ Harvey

In this documentary, the musician PJ Harvey travels to Kabul, Kosovo and Washington, D.C. to find inspiration.

By Glenn Kenny

NEWS

Piano Bars and Jazz Clubs Reopened, Calling Live Music ‘Incidental’

Before Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo moved to ban indoor dining again in New York City, several music clubs had begun offering performances again that they claimed were background music.

By Sarah Bahr and Sean Piccoli

The Charts

Bad Bunny’s New Album Is Billboard’s First All-Spanish No. 1

The Puerto Rican pop star’s latest LP, “El Último Tour del Mundo,” debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 chart. Miley Cyrus is No. 2.

By Ben Sisario

Radio Disney, Launching Pad for Young Stars, Will Shut Down Next Year

Since 1996, the network has been a go-to music destination for preteens and helped jump-start the careers of future superstars. Disney said it was ending it to focus on streaming and TV.

By Allyson Waller