Independent publisher Spirit Music Group has acquired one of the greatest song collections in UK rock history after buying Who co-founder Pete Townshend’s entire catalogue.

The deal gives Spirit control of countless classic songs penned by Townshend, including Pinball Wizard, Who Are You and Won’t Get Fooled Again, while it has also entered into a partnership with the legendary songwriter and musician to promote the catalogue globally.

Townshend and Spirit CEO Mark Fried put together the deal over the past year with what Spirit said was the specific aim of fostering proactive collaboration between the artist, his management team at Trinifold, his record company Universal, the original publisher of his earliest songs TRO and Sprit’s global marketing team.

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