T-Pain says music is losing its value due to streaming depreciation, which is why he sold his publishing catalog and select master rights to HarbourView Equity Partners in February 2025.
Money for the Future
The deal’s purchase price has been reported at approximately $100 million, though the exact figure has not been publicly confirmed, according to People. The actual 2025 announcement says HarbourView acquired his publishing catalog and select masters; it was not necessarily every music right he owned. HarbourView Equity Partners is an investment firm that acquires music rights.
According to HarbourView, T-Pain has sold more than 50 million singles, accumulated billions of streams and had 10 No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits.
Many artists have begun selling their catalog as an effort to cash out on their popularity.
T-Pain’s deal is not necessarily every music right he owns, Parade Magazine reported.
On his Twitch stream, the artist said the sale was primarily about financial security for his children rather than simply taking a huge payday.
He has three children (daughter Lyriq and sons Muziq and Kaydnz) with his wife, Amber Najm.
Streaming changed the economics and perceived value of music, and artists had little say in that transition.
“When streaming started, nobody told us, or nobody came to any artist and said, ‘Hey, we’re about to put your s**t on streaming platforms. How much do you want your music to cost?’” T-Pain said, according to People.
“Suddenly, out of nowhere and without anybody’s consent, all of our music went from a dollar a song to 0.003 cents per play. Nobody asked us s**t,” T-Pain said, though this figure has not been confirmed. Payout can be from 0.001 to 0.019, depending upon the streaming platform.
He specifically referenced 2015 as the beginning of streaming’s impact on the music business, saying streaming compensation could continue declining, making his catalog less valuable over time.
“Now imagine that that gets lower and lower as life goes on. My catalog is worth less and less and less and less without any kind of consent from me, without anybody asking me if that’s what I want to charge for my music,” T-Pain said.
He repeatedly connected the decision to his children’s future and generational wealth, questioning whether he wanted to leave his children a music catalog whose future value could be affected by decisions made by streaming platforms.
“You think I want to leave that to my kids?” T-Pain said, according to The Root. “You think I’mma leave my kids’ life and their future in the hands of the music industry? You got me f**ked up. I’ve got to figure something out,”
“I’m not leaving my kids’ future in the hands of the music industry at f**kin’ all,” T-Pain said. “I know exactly what I want. I know exactly how much I want right now. I know exactly what I would need to live out the rest of my life. If I get that and I’m satisfied with that and I’m content, I’m not looking for more.”
