HER songs Baby One More Time, Oops!… I Did It Again and Toxic are among some of the most recognisable in the world, but this week Britney Spears made the shock decision to relinquish control of them.
Here, we reveal what really drove the high-stakes move, and as she continues to post bizarre videos from her often filthy mansion, pals tell us why they are concerned the troubled 44-year-old is ‘spiralling hard’, and fears are at an all-time high.
Britney Spears’ pals’ fears are at an all-time high after the legendary pop star’s decision to sell her back catalogue of musicCredit: AP:Associated Press
Britney is allegedly ‘burning through’ her cash at an astonishing speedCredit: instagram
Britney is believed to have sold the rights to music publisher Primary Wave for $200 million (around £150). It’s currently unclear what type of rights the publisher has acquired, with Sony Music said to own and control the rights to her recorded catalogue.
But we’re told that cash is at the heart of it all. The news quietly emerged just weeks after it was alleged she had been ‘burning through’ her cash at an astonishing speed – plus the IRS claimed she owes $600,000 in back taxes and penalties.
If she kept on spending the way she has been, she could very likely have run out of money.
Insider
Our insider said: “Selling your back catalogue is often considered a last resort for singers, and it often ends in huge legal battles to try and gain it back.
“It’s no secret that Britney has struggled to look after her money over the years, but she wants more cash, and she wants it quickly, so this seemed like an obvious step.
“It will keep her in the lifestyle she is accustomed to for longer.”
Just , pals are deeply concerned about what the sale really means, while she’s so clearly struggling to put her life back together.
Britney’s net worth is now estimated to be around £40m – a considerably low amount for a woman with a £100 million under her belt and 150 million record sales.
She is, however, thought to still be spending as if she is at the height of her career.
The mum-of-two is known to splurge her cash on luxury holidays, private jets, and often foots the bill for her whole expanding entourage.
Our insider explained: “If she kept on spending the way she has been, she could very likely have run out of money.
“It’s all very sad because she can literally go four months at a time without leaving the house at all and then splurges on a big trip.
“We’re all hoping she’s actually getting good financial advice and the decision hasn’t been taken lightly, but it does feel to many of us that this is a recipe for disaster.”
Over the years, many music stars have sold their back catalogues – Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Queen, Stevie Nicks and Sting are just a few. But it does raise questions about her future in music.
Last month, the iconic singer, who hasn’t performed since 2018, shared a rambling post in which she insisted she would be . However, she made it clear she would never perform in the US again.
Britney hasn’t performed on stage since 2018Credit: Instagram/britneyspears
Britney’s net worth is now estimated to be around £40m – a considerably low amount for a woman with a £100 million Vegas residencyCredit: Getty
She posted a picture of herself when she was just 20 at the in 2002, sitting at a white piano.
The singer wrote next to the sweet snap: “Sending this piano to my son this year!!! Interestingly enough, I dance on IG to heal things in my body that people have no idea about.
“Yup and it’s embarrassing sometimes… but I walked through the fire to save my life… I will never perform in the U.S. again because of extremely sensitive reasons but I hope to be sitting on a stool with a red rose in my hair, in a bun, performing with my son… in the UK and AUSTRALIA very soon.”
It honestly seems very unlikely at the point that music is an actual priority for her.
Insider
Our insider said: “It honestly seems very unlikely at this point that music is an actual priority for her.
“She’s not going to be and re-record her whole back catalogue.
“There has been talk of a documentary about her life, and she likes the idea of that and being able to share her story.”
In 2024, the singer said she would “never return to the music industry” and shut down speculation that a new album was on the way in a post on Instagram.
‘Spiralling again’
have become a huge cause of concern for friends and fans over the years, and as the new year kicked off, Britney continued to share videos – dancing in next to nothing, spinning round and round and most worryingly, captioned with a
Insiders have said her posts often reflect how she is feeling, adding: “The latest stream of random posts would suggest she is spiralling again.”
She only returned to social media herself in 2021, when her 13-year conservatorship finally came to an end, meaning she once more had control of her career decisions and finances.
During the harrowing court case, Britney described her years in conservatorship as an” that “stripped me of my womanhood,” preventing her from having children while controlling her life and causing trauma and exhaustion.
As her dad, Jamie, stepped away from the role and Britney slowly made her way back into the limelight, fans rejoiced, believing the had really made an impact.
Amid her newfound freedom from the Free Britney movement, the star married her third husband, Sam Asghai, but they split just a year later in 2023Credit: Getty
Britney with one of her sons Jayden in June 2025Credit: Instagram
Britney says she’ll never perform again in the USCredit: Getty
Just a few days ago, Britney sparked serious fears when, in a bombshell new social media post, she claimed she was ‘scared’ of her family and ‘lucky to be alive’, suggesting she still has a long way to go until she finds peace.
After regaining control, Britney released a collaboration with in 2022, and later collaborated with Black Eyed Peas member on a track titled Mind Your Business in 2023.
Amid her newfound freedom, Britney married her third husband, Sam Asghari, .
The star’s first husband was Jason Alexander, who she was married to for 55 hours before tying the knot with in 2004, parting ways in 2007 – the exes share sons Sean, 16, and Jayden, 15.
Ex’s shocking claims
Last October, Federline made a series of bombshell allegations against his ex-wife in his memoir, You Thought You Knew, accusing her of boozing during her pregnancy and .
Federline with Britney in 2006Credit: Getty
He also claimed she and .
And he claimed he caught Britney cheating on him with a female backup dancer – but he refused to be in a throuple.
He also said he had grave fears for her safety, saying .
Britney, who , recently reunited with her estranged boys after they allegedly cut contact with her over her concerning behaviour. Federline revealed the boys were “trying to find a way to mend a bond between their mom”.
And it seems they are well on their way, because after seeing each other over Christmas, insiders say that Britney has been spending time with her sons to celebrate selling off her back catalogue, which is likely to mean more to her than anything else.
Britney Spears' conservatorship timeline
In September 2021, Britney’s case returned to a Los Angeles courtroom where made a number of bombshell rulings, following her father’s the month prior.
She ruled to rid Jamie of his daughter’s conservatorship, however, it did not mean the .
Speaking in court, Judge Brenda Penny said: “Based on what I read in the filings, and I read everything. I do believe the suspension of Jamie Spears is in the best interest of Britney Spears.
“The current situation is unattainable. The court finds the toxic environment Jamie Spears has created needs to be removed today.”
Following the judge’s decision, a temporary conservator was put in Jamie’s place for about a month.
In early November 2021, Jamie was back in court
for stepping down but documents at the time showed that he was not seeking any further compensation.
On November 12, Judge Penny ruled in favor of the pop star, removing Jamie from the position of conservator without requiring any further mental examination from Britney.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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