Primary Wave acquires catalog of Jon Lind, including hits by Earth, Wind & Fire and Madonna

Primary Wave Music Publishing has acquired a majority stake in the music publishing catalog of Jon Lind, an Award-winning songwriter, multi-platinum A&R and music publisher.

Included are some of Lind’s biggest hits such as Boogie Wonderland and Sun Goddess by Earth, Wind & Fire, Save the Best for Last by Vanessa Williams and Crazy for You by Madonna.

Jon Lind will also now have access to Primary Wave’s marketing and publishing infrastructure, which includes digital strategy, licensing, synch opportunities, and film & TV production.

Both Save the Best for Last and Crazy for You shot to No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Save the Best for Last stayed atop the Billboard chart for five weeks and was the biggest success of Vanessa William’s career.

The song was named “Song of the Year” by ASCAP in 1992 and earned a Grammy nomination for “Song of the Year” and “Record of the Year” in 1993.

Jon Lind first established himself as a hit songwriter in the late 1970s, writing songs for Earth, Wind & Fire, Ramsey Lewis, Deniece Williams, Atlantic Starr, Betty Wright and others. He continued writing throughout the 80’s, penning hits for the likes of Madonna, Cher, Cheap Trick, Aaron Neville, Mica Paris, The Emotions, Jennifer Holliday, and Rick Astley, among others.

By the 90’s, he had a number of hits on the charts, two with Vanessa Williams, plus a variety of prestigious collaborations, including Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey from The Who.

In 1998, his mentor, Bob Cavallo, enlisted Lind as Head of A&R at Hollywood Records, where he was instrumental in developing the careers and successes of Miley Cyrus, The Jonas Brothers, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, and Jesse McCartney.

“Jon has written timeless songs that have resonated in people’s lives for years and continue to do so to this day.”

Adam Lowenberg, Primary Wave

“Jon has written timeless songs that have resonated in people’s lives for years and continue to do so to this day,” said Adam Lowenberg, Chief Marketing Officer of Primary Wave Music Publishing.

“Our team couldn’t be happier to welcome him to Primary Wave and are looking forward to bringing new life into his classic hits.”

“Today, I am excited, inspired, and humbled to be joining Larry Mestel and the Primary Wave family of artists, writers, composers and executives!”

Jon Lind

Jon Lind added: “From a lifetime of ‘collaboration,’ I’d like to give special thanks to Bob Cavallo for always believing! And the Mighty Maurice White, who became my personal Picasso and Merlin whisperer, encouraging me to break rules, splash colors, and try to make real magic.

“Today, I am excited, inspired, and humbled to be joining Larry Mestel and the Primary Wave family of artists, writers, composers and executives!”

“I am genuinely pleased to facilitate this catalog partnership with Primary Wave on behalf of my legendary dear friend, Jon Lind.”

Jeremy Rosen, attorney

Jon Lind’s attorney, Jeremy Rosen, added: “Little did I know as a child that decades later I would represent the maestro behind Rodney Dangerfield’s classic Caddyshack dance scene.

“I am genuinely pleased to facilitate this catalog partnership with Primary Wave on behalf of my legendary dear friend, Jon Lind.”


Today’s news follows the company’s acquisition earlier this week of a 50% stake in KT Tunstall’s music publishing catalog.

Primary wave also announced last week that it had acquired the music-publishing catalog of award-winning songwriter Dan Wilson.

Last month saw Primary Wave buy a stake in the music publishing catalog and master recordings of singer and songwriter Leo Sayer.

A week before that, the company acquired a majority stake in the publishing catalog of legendary singer, songwriter and Fleetwood Mac member, Stevie Nicks.Music Business Worldwide