Seeker Music has acquired the masters and publishing catalog of Nu Shooz, the Portland-formed duo whose dance track I Can’t Wait climbed to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The acquisition, financial terms of which were not disclosed, was announced just weeks after the music rights, publishing, and record company led by Evan Bogart closed its inaugural USD $267 million ABS (Asset Backed Securitization).
Upon closing the ABS, Los Angeles-headquartered Seeker said the deal will enable it to expand its catalog, invest in talent, and modernize its rights management technology.
The Nu Shooz deal covers the duo’s masters and publishing catalog, including their 1986 album Poolside and follow-up hit Point of No Return.
For Nu Shooz, the timing of the deal comes as I Can’t Wait turns 40 this year. Seeker said it plans to celebrate the milestone with unreleased music and other creative campaigns.
“Honoring the DNA of seminal global hits and extending their legacy with future generations is what Seeker was built for.”
Evan Bogart, Seeker Music
Nu Shooz, which consists of guitarist John Smith and vocalist/percussionist Valerie Day, originally played together as a jazz-funk outfit before shifting to R&B. After signing with Atlantic Records, their break came when Dutch DJ Peter Slaghuis remixed I Can’t Wait, which eventually became a worldwide phenomenon, said Seeker.
The group has since been inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame and nominated for a Grammy.
Seeker Music CEO Evan Bogart said: “Nu Shooz defined an era with one of the most groundbreaking sounds of the ’80s. I Can’t Wait still feels fresh and alive today, and we are beyond excited to breathe new life into these legendary synth-pop hits. Honoring the DNA of seminal global hits and extending their legacy with future generations is what Seeker was built for.”
“We know the Nu Shooz legacy is in good hands, and we ‘can’t wait’ to see how they find new ways to bring our music into the future!”
Valerie Day, Nu Shooz
Valerie Day of Nu Shooz said: “We’re excited to join forces with the team at Seeker. Their deep love of music drives everything they do, and with their creative vision, the possibilities are endless. We know the Nu Shooz legacy is in good hands, and we ‘can’t wait’ to see how they find new ways to bring our music into the future!”
Nu Shooz was advised by Peter Csathy of Deep Cuts Media and Peter Vaughn Shaver, Esq. of Sound Advice, LLC. Seeker was represented by Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, along with Seeker’s Bogart, General Counsel, Dan Stuart, and Chief Creative Officer, Steven Melrose.
The acquisition adds Nu Shooz to Seeker’s portfolio that is now valued at $400 million and includes the catalogs of Christopher Cross, Joan Jett, Run the Jewels, Charlotte Caffey (The Go-Gos), Jon Bellion, John Ryan (One Direction), Mark Morrison (Return of the Mack), Future Cut (Lily Allen), Jay Sean (Down), Mozella (Wrecking Ball) and more.
Seeker was founded in 2020 by Bogart, the songwriter behind Beyoncé‘s Halo, with backing from M&G Investments.
As MBW previously reported, central to Seeker’s approach is what it calls “Samplémoose,” a program that brings songwriters and producers together to interpolate catalog tracks into new releases. Its biggest success to date is Shaboozey’s Grammy-nominated A Bar Song (Tipsy), built from J-Kwon’s original, which spent 19 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The company also turned JoJo’s 2006 hit Too Little Too Late into 2 Little 2 Late, a 2025 release by Levi featuring Mario.
Music Business Worldwide
