Primary Wave Music has acquired a stake in James Brown’s publishing, master recording income stream, and name and likeness rights.
The New York Times reports that the deal is estimated ‘at about $90 million’.
According to a statement issued to the media, Primary Wave will also continue a partnership with the James Brown estate, which will include several projects related to The James Brown 2000 Trust, which was established in 2000 by Brown for charitable and educational purposes.
Primary Wave also says that the estate will now have access to its entire marketing team, digital team, publicity department, branding team, and publishing infrastructure which includes licensing and synch opportunities.
Included in the deal are what Primary Wave calls “some of the most legendary hits in the history of music” such as Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag, I Got You (I Feel Good), and It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World.
Released in 1965, Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag was Brown’s first song to reach the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No.8.
The song hit No.1 on the R&B charts, staying there for eight weeks and earned Brown his first Grammy award.
Brown’s most well-known recording is considered by many to be I Got You (I Feel Good).
Released in 1965, the song soared to the Top 5 of the Billboard 100, peaking at No.3 and has since appeared in over ten films.
Also included, is the 1985 single Living in America. Upon release, the song reached No.4 on the Hot 100 chart and spent 11 weeks on Billboard’s Top 40.
Living in America won Brown his second Grammy and was featured in the film Rocky IV.
One of the first ten inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Brown’s career began in the mid-50s as lead singer of the Famous Flames.
He quickly gained recognition for being an energetic and powerful live performer, and in the 60’s released Live at the Apollo which shot him to super stardom.
The album was ranked at 25 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Times, was one of 50 recordings chosen by the Library of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Over the course of his 50+ year career, Brown recorded 17 singles that reached No.1 on the Billboard R&B charts, he holds the record for most singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and amassed an incredible 98 songs on the Billboard Top 40 R&B singles chart.
In addition to being a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, in 2013 he was inducted into the Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame as an artist and then again in 2017 as a songwriter.
James Brown has also been honored by several other music institutions including the Songwriters Hall of Fame and in 2003, and was one of the recipients at Kennedy Center Honors.
James Brown died on December 25, 2006 of heart failure.
“The James Brown Estate and related Trust are very proud and excited to work with Larry Mestel and Primary Wave.”
Russell Bauknight, James Brown Estate and Trust
“The James Brown Estate and related Trust are very proud and excited to work with Larry Mestel and Primary Wave,” said Russell Bauknight, Fiduciary for the James Brown Estate and Trust.
“We believe that our choice of professionals to take the James Brown Legacy to the next level is going to prove to be one of the most successful events in Mr. Browns long history in show business.”
“We are thrilled to help continue the expansion of his influence and further his legacy through both his music and The James Brown 2000 Trust.”
Larry Mestel, Primary Wave
Larry Mestel, CEO & Founder of Primary Wave Music added: “I FEEL GOOD! Wow, I am awed that Primary Wave has been chosen by the estate of James Brown to partner with the Godfather of Soul.
“We are thrilled to help continue the expansion of his influence and further his legacy through both his music and The James Brown 2000 Trust.”
Today’s news follows Primary Wave’s recent acquisition of a bundle of rights from Jim Peterik – a band member of Survivor, The Ides of March, and 38 Special, and the co-writer/producer of Eye Of The Tiger. MBW sources suggest that the transaction was worth approximately $20 million.
In the six months prior to the Jim Peterik deal, Primary Wave announced purchases including a 50% stake in the master recordings of musician Chris Isaak (a ‘multi-million dollar’ deal), followed by the acquisition of a stake in the Prince Estate in August.
Primary Wave has also recently snapped up stakes in the catalogs of artists such as TOTO drummer Jeff Porcaro (an estimated $30 million deal), Gerry Goffin ($20 million), Bing Crosby ($50 million+), and Luther Vandross ($40 million).
Two weeks ago, Primary Wave bought a stake in the rights of R&B legend Teddy Pendergrass in yet another multi-million-dollar transaction.Music Business Worldwide