Odds on Noel Gallagher Selling Off Oasis’ Back Catalogue and How Much Will He Make?

Noel Gallagher is reportedly considering selling Oasis' back catalogue for a huge sum, as the band gears up for a much-anticipated reunion tour in 2025. (Image: Lenscap / Alamy)

The biggest music story of the year has arguably been Oasis' shock reunion and upcoming 2025 tour. Warring brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher have put their differences to one side for several bumper pay days next year.

But Noel may not need the money, as the star—who wrote most of the indie icons' tunes, including the likes of Slide Away and Champagne Supernova—has previously joked about selling off the band's back catalogue. Speaking in January 2023, he told Radio X: "It's a tempting amount of money.

"I guess when the moment arrives, there will be a decision to make, but I’m not there yet. I do wonder if it will demotivate me, though; do you know what I mean?

"If you buy a yacht, you're kind of going to be on it all the time, aren’t you really? I’m not sure I’ll be sitting on the back of the yacht with an acoustic guitar trying to write songs about the weather." said Noel.

Selling a music back catalogue effectively means artists are offloading the rights to their tunes and any royalties usually paid when their music is used. Since Oasis announced their reunion tour, such speculation about Noel cashing in on the Britpop group's songs has increased. 

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'Deadly Serious' Noel

After joking about selling the back catalogue last year, the star is now said to be "deadly serious" about it. A source told the Daily Mail newspaper: "Noel has joked about it, but behind the scenes he's actually getting on with making it happen. He's deadly serious.

"There are huge sums on the table and he's interested in realising that cash while he's still around to enjoy it. Plus, it's the perfect time because now that his divorce is settled, his ex-wife Sara won't get any of it, although she might still have something to say about it!"

While Noel and Oasis have previously declined to comment about the speculation, it is just 2/9 that he offloads the rights to Oasis' megahits.

Earlier this year, Liam played the band's Definitely Maybe album in full on his solo tour in the record's 30th year, which may well have played a part in sparking the reunion. And earlier this month, Definitely Maybe returned to the top of the Official Albums chart as it celebrated its 30th anniversary.

The album hit the number one spot in September 1994, when it was released, and the 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition hit the summit again a couple of weeks ago. It was the first time in 14 years that Oasis had topped the Official Albums Chart, and there could be more of that to come next year if their tour is a huge success.

Oasis Hits To Increase In Value?

Should Noel sell Oasis' huge hits, then he certainly wouldn't be the first artist to cash in on some of his own songs. Bruce Springsteen offloaded the rights to his music to Sony Music Entertainment in 2021, with the deal thought to be worth around £375 million.

Just this year, Sony Music Group are said to have forked out at least £475 million for half of the late, great Michael Jackson's music catalogue, and in 2020, Universal Music bought Bob Dylan's songwriting catalogue for £228 million. That included hits such as Blowin' in the Wind and The Times They Are A-Changin'. He then offloaded his entire recorded music catalogue to Sony Music Entertainment for £152 million, meaning he has made £380 million for selling his top tunes.

Sting also sold the copyright to hits including Every Breath You Take and Roxanne to Universal for around £221 million in 2022, the same year as the late David Bowie's estate sold his back catalogue to Warner Chappell Music for around £185 million.

But how much would Noel receive for Oasis' back catalogue? 

There has been speculation about £200 million and upwards, but Oasis' songs could be about to increase in value. When a star footballer impresses at a World Cup or European Championship, it tends to up their price tag. Could the same be said for Oasis' hits?

With their big reunion tour on the way next year, another run out of their vast discography of super hits at various venues might put an extra few quid on the back catalogue's price tag.

A source told the Mail: "Noel knows the hype around the Oasis tour will also add to the value of the tracks and reignite the interest in those classic songs, which can only help bump the money up further. He's a shrewd businessman as well as a top songwriter.

"He's going to be an astonishingly rich man—even more so than he has been in the past. And this sort of deal will be pure cash in the bank to spend on whatever he likes."

Performing at Finsbury Park in 2002, Noel Gallagher had no idea that his Oasis back catalogue could one day be worth a fortune. (Image: Independent / Alamy)

Song management company Hipgnosis are thought to be one party who might be interested in trying to strike a deal with Noel. They now have a portfolio thought to be worth more than £3 billion, after splashing out for tunes by the likes of Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber, Shakira, and Fleetwood Mac.

It's just 4/6 that Noel sells Oasis' back catalogue for £250 million or more, while it's 11/10 that he receives between £200 million and £249.9 million.

Noel's Bumper Deal

Oasis recently added another two shows to their upcoming reunion tour in a response to the "unprecedented demand" for tickets. More than 10 million fans from 158 countries queued online to try to buy tickets for their initial dates. The Don't Look Back In Anger hitmakers now have 19 UK and Ireland shows lined up for their Oasis Live '25 tour, including seven gigs at Wembley Stadium.

Oasis are also expected to announce more tour dates further afield in the future, and there will no doubt be a huge demand once again. With these massive shows on the horizon, it sounds like Noel will land a bumper deal for the rights to the tunes.

It is 10/1 that he makes less than £200 million, but that doesn't look likely. There will be no looking back in anger for Oasis next year.