IT'S OFFICIAL: SONGS GOES TO KOBALT

The rumors were true: the long-anticipated sale of SONGS Music Publishing is a done deal, and the purchaser is Kobalt Capital, with Kobalt Music Publishing to take over admin and servicing of the catalog.

SONGS partners Matt Pincus, Ron Perry and Carianne Marshall announced the deal along with Kobalt founder/boss Willard Ahdritz on Friday, 12/8.

The hot pubbery's hit-driven holdings include works by The Weeknd, Lorde, Diplo/Major Lazer, XXXtentacion and Desiigner, among others. The catalog counts some 65#1 hits, 100+ Top 5 singles and 50 platinum or multi-platinum songs, and high U.S. radio chartshare (peaking at just over 5.4% in Q4 2016).

The price of the deal wasn't disclosed, though rumors swirling around the biz placed it at around $160m. LionTree Advisors served as financial advisor on the transaction.

Pincus, who recalled Ahdritz's belief in the company from its founding in 2004, underscored that he, Perry and Marshall had built SONGS as a true indie and that it had remained so. "That is why I feel so fortunate to now hand SONGS to Willard, Laurent [Hubert] and the entire Kobalt team, who together have demonstrated a time-tested commitment to songwriters through their dedication to transparency, honesty and independence."

"It’s because of these characteristics and our longstanding relationship," Pincus added, "that we are confident there is no better partner than Kobalt with which to continue our legacy."

Ahdritz, too, cited his 2004 introduction to Pincus (via attorney Michael Selverne, who repped SONGS in the latest deal), praised his acquisition as "a remarkable company with a combination of great creative vision and a deep business understanding."

Incoming Columbia chief Perry (who's said to be starting his new gig on 1/2) noted "the bittersweet culmination of a journey that I joined Matt on 14 years ago" and expressed pride and gratitude at the terrain covered by said adventure. Marshall said, "It’s been my great privilege to work at SONGS, a company we built around the idea of empowering songwriters," and voiced her "great faith that our songwriters and catalog will continue to flourish in Kobalt's trusted hands."