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Why music icons are selling their songwriting catalogs : The Indicator from Planet Money An increasing number of major musicians are selling their songwriting catalogs for tens – and even hundreds – of millions of dollars. What's going on?

The Indicator from Planet Money

Multimillion dollar music catalogs

Multimillion dollar music catalogs

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(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for SUFH) Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for SUFH hide caption

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Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for SUFH

(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for SUFH)

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for SUFH

Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Stevie Nicks. All music icons that have sold their extensive songwriting catalogs away for eye-popping amounts of money. It's becoming a growing trend in an industry that's seen several shifts since the advent of streaming.

NPR culture correspondent Anastasia Tsioulcas joins the show today to help us figure out what's behind all these blockbuster sales. And why at least one investor says these catalogs could be the new gold.