Big money music deals could ramp up significantly in response to new Biden administrationBiden Cred Carolyn Kaster

Big money music deals could ramp up significantly in response to new Biden administration

While President-elect Joe Biden‘s victory is expected to supply the music industry—as well as all other artistically-inclined ventures—with a multitude of positive changes, artists find that there is one major downside to the new administration: capital gains tax.

When selling songs or music catalog to a company, artists must pay a one-time capital gains tax paid straight to the U.S. government. In the wake of Trump’s presidency, this tax currently comprises 20 percent of the amount made in the sale. However, with Biden’s intended tax plan, the tax could see an increase up to 37 percent, depending on tax-bracket and take-home amounts. Further, under the new administration’s tax plan, those making more than $1 million will pay an equal rate on investment income to what they do on wages.

Before Biden takes the White House come January 2021, artists are urgently scrambling to secure multi-million dollar deals as quickly as possible. While the 46th president is expected to give much back to creative endeavors, the policy may cause many songwriters to hold on to their song catalogs in order to avoid the tax.

H/T: Rolling Stone

Featured image: Carol Kaster/AP Image

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