SONY Music quietly bought Bob Dylan's entire back catalogue of recorded music as well as the rights to future tracks in a deal signed last summer, the publishing giant announced late last night.

It follows a host of deals signed last year by some of music's biggest names, not least Bruce Springsteen in December.

Bob Dylan's agreement, which extends an already six-decade relationship with the label group, will see all of Dylan's recorded work since 1962 fall under Sony's wing.

Sony Music Group chairman Rob

Stringer said: "Bob is one of music's greatest icons and an artist of unrivaled genius. The essential impact he and his recordings continue to have on popular culture is second to none and we're thrilled he will now be a permanent member of the Sony Music family."

Dylan, who has sold more than 125m records over his 60- year career, signed with Columbia Records in 1961 - now owned by Sony.

"Columbia Records and Rob Stringer have been nothing but good to me for many, many years and a whole lot of records," said Dylan. "I'm glad that all my recordings can stay where they belong."

Terms were undisclosed but the fee was reported as $200m (£148m).

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