Sony/ATV Music Publishing will buy the oldest U.S. country music song catalog in existence from Gaylord Entertainment Co. for $157 million, Gaylord Entertainment said Tuesday.
Acuff-Rose Music Publishing, founded by country singer Roy Acuff and songwriter Fred Rose in 1942, has a library of 55,000 songs, including classics such as "Oh Pretty Woman," "Bye Bye Love," "Your Cheatin' Heart" and "Tennessee Waltz."
Sony/ATV is a joint venture formed in 1995 by Sony Music Entertainment Inc., Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. and pop star Michael Jackson.
Sony Music Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) are units of Sony Corp.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing already owns a vast music catalog, including songs by The Beatles, Willie Nelson, Stevie Nicks, Pearl Jam and Babyface.