Slipknot have officially sold a majority stake in their extensive music catalog to HarbourView Equity Partners. The investment firm confirmed the acquisition exclusively to The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday, November 18.
While the specific financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, reports from Billboard in August suggested the deal was being shopped with a valuation of approximately $120 million. The partnership reportedly encompasses both publishing and recorded music royalties.
Slipknot percussionist and founding member Michael “Clown” Crahan issued a statement regarding the sale, signaling that the band views this as a strategic move for future expansion rather than a simple cash-out.
“After 25 years of taking on the music business, we find ourselves with a partner that is willing to sign onto continuing what Slipknot started,” Crahan stated. “Only they want to go even bigger. Get ready. Hail The Knot.”
HarbourView Equity Partners founder and CEO Sherrese Clarke praised the band’s enduring cultural footprint as a key driver for the investment.
“Slipknot‘s music has redefined heavy metal and created a global cultural phenomenon,” Clarke said. “Their catalog is a testament to their influence, passion, and enduring artistry within the genre. We pride ourselves on having our finger on the pulse of culture and with thorough analysis of audience engagement, we clearly see the cultural impact of Slipknot from the 1990’s to present. The enduring and relevant proof points with Slipknot remain core to our investing thesis, and HarbourView is honored to help preserve and amplify the group’s work for decades and generations to come.”
The deal covers a commercially massive body of work. According to data from industry tracker Luminate, Slipknot‘s recorded masters have moved 14.6 million album consumption units in the United States alone, generating 6.8 billion domestic streams. Globally, that streaming number balloons to 15.73 billion.
The band has secured 11 gold and platinum records, including their triple-platinum 1999 self-titled debut. Their chart dominance continued well into their career, with three consecutive albums—All Hope Is Gone, .5: The Gray Chapter, and We Are Not Your Kind—debuting at number one on the Billboard 200.
It is important to note the nuances of the ownership structure. As reported by Billboard, Warner Music Group controls the master recordings via their 2007 acquisition of Roadrunner Records. Therefore, this deal likely pertains to the band’s income stream from those masters, rather than ownership of the masters themselves. Previous reports also suggested that not every member of the band may be participating in the sale, though the official announcement did not clarify the specific stakeholders involved.
This acquisition marks another major move for HarbourView in 2025, following deals with Songwriters Hall of Fame member Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins and pop superstar Kelly Clarkson.
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