Who Owns Drake's Masters and Recordings
Drake does not fully own the master recordings of most of his major-label albums. His earlier projects with Young Money Entertainment and Cash Money Records were released under a distribution deal with Universal Music Group, which typically holds master ownership in standard label contracts. More recent projects, including his later releases, have involved more complex ownership structures, but the masters are still managed through label agreements rather than full self-ownership. As of the latest public filings, the rights to the sound recordings remain with the labels and their parent entities, not Drake personally.
Drake's situation is similar to many high-profile artists who built their catalogs under major-label deals before the modern direct-to-fan era. He has used his OVO brand and joint ventures to control branding, release strategy, and revenue splits, but the underlying master ownership usually stays with the label partners. Public court documents and music-industry reports show that streaming royalties, sync fees, and master-use income flow through these label entities before profit splits reach Drake and his affiliates.
Drake's Publishing and Songwriting Royalties
Drake owns a significant share of the publishing rights to his songwriting, but not always 100%. He frequently co-writes tracks with producers, songwriters, and sample sources, meaning publishing is often split through entities like OVO Sound and co-publishing deals. His PRO registrations and royalty statements show credits for composition rights, while the corresponding sound-recording royalties are handled separately by the label and distributor.
Public royalty databases and industry reports indicate that Drake collects writer and publisher royalties on his compositions through his own entities and through co-publishing arrangements. Sampling clearances, interpolation licenses, and third-party songwriting credits affect how much of the publishing pie he retains on each track. These splits are documented in ASCAP/BMI data and label accounting, showing that his publishing ownership is strong but layered with co-owners and administrators.
How Drake Controls His Brand and Revenue Streams
OVO Sound, Ventures, and Business Structure
Drake operates OVO Sound as a record label and brand platform that manages releases, merchandise, and partnerships. Through this structure, he controls release timing, visual branding, and many revenue streams, even when masters and publishing are split with label and publishing partners. OVO's deals with streaming services, retailers, and live-event promoters are structured to capture value across multiple income layers.
Drake's business model relies on combining label services, publishing administration, touring, endorsements, and brand partnerships under the OVO umbrella. While he does not fully own the masters of his catalog, his control over branding, distribution strategy, and cross-platform monetization gives him significant long-term financial influence. SEC filings, public-company reports, and music-business analyses confirm that this hybrid model allows him to earn from both label and independent-style revenue channels.