Warner Music in talks to buy Bowie songwriting catalogue - report

Warner Music is reportedly in talks to buy David Bowie’s songwriting catalogue and is raising $535m in debt to support the potential acquisition and others.

According to the Financial Times - which reported last month that Bowie’s estate was looking to sell his catalogue and has attracted bids of about $200m - Warner Music is in advanced talks to buy it, although no deal has been agreed.

The record label said on Wednesday that it was offering $535m in debt for "potential acquisitions of certain music and music-related assets". The FT cited sources as saying that the Bowie catalogue is one of these acquisitions.

In September, Bowie’s estate struck a long-term licensing deal with Warner Music for his recorded music catalogue.

David Bowie died in 2016 at the age of 69, just two days after releasing the album "Blackstar".