Primary Wave Music has struck a partnership with the estate of Wilson Pickett.
The agreement covers a stake in the late soul singer’s music publishing catalog, and will also see Primary Wave share in his name, image, and likeness rights.
Primary Wave announced the deal on Wednesday (September 2). Financial terms were not disclosed.
The estate will gain access to Primary Wave‘s marketing team and publishing infrastructure, with the two sides working on new marketing, branding, digital, and sync opportunities, as well as film and television projects.
Pickett‘s best-known recordings include In the Midnight Hour, which he co-wrote, plus his versions of Mustang Sally and Land of 1000 Dances.
Pickett, who died on January 19, 2006, at the age of 64, recorded more than 50 songs that reached the US R&B charts, many of which crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100.
“Promoting my brother’s incredible legacy has not just been a responsibility; it has been a labor of absolute love,” said Max Pickett, the singer’s brother. “Wilson poured his soul into every lyric, leaving us a musical inheritance that belongs to the world.
“Since his passing, it has been my sacred mission to ensure that his voice continues to echo for generations to come. I am profoundly grateful to partner with Primary Wave – stewards who truly understand the weight of his history and the timeless power of his sound.
“Together, we are keeping the Wicked Pickett‘s fire burning bright.”
“Primary Wave is honored to partner with Max Pickett and the Pickett family to help preserve and expand the legacy of one of the most influential artists in music history,” said David Weitzman, Partner at Primary Wave.
“Wilson Pickett was a once in a generation talent, an iconic soul singer, electrifying performer, and one of the defining voices of American music.
“His remarkable body of work, created alongside legendary collaborators including Jerry Wexler, the Stax Records team, the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, and Gamble & Huff, helped shape the sound of soul and R&B for generations.
“We are proud to celebrate his extraordinary career and ensure that his legacy continues to reach new audiences for years to come.”
In the Midnight Hour, which Pickett co-wrote with Steve Cropper, was released as a single in 1965 and reached No.1 on the R&B chart and No.21 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The record sold more than a million copies and earned a Grammy nomination, according to Primary Wave.
Primary Wave acquired Cropper‘s publishing catalog in 2016, putting the company on both sides of that song’s writer credit.
Mustang Sally, released in 1966, reached No.6 on the R&B chart and No.23 on the Hot 100, and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2000.
Land of 1000 Dances, also issued in 1966, became Pickett‘s third R&B No.1 and reached No.6 on the Hot 100 – his highest pop chart placing.
That single sold more than a million copies, according to Primary Wave.
Songs written by Pickett have been recorded by acts including Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Booker T. & The MGs, Genesis, Los Lobos, and Bruce Springsteen, the company said.
The five-time Grammy nominee was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.
He received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1993, entered the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame in 2005, and was inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame in 2024.
The deal is the latest in a run of catalog and name, image, and likeness partnerships for the Larry Mestel-led company.
In June, Primary Wave struck a deal with the estate of Donna Summer covering her catalog, her recordings, and her name, image, and likeness rights.
In July, it partnered with Foreigner co-founder Mick Jones, in an agreement covering his publishing and recording catalogs, plus the band’s name, image, and likeness and its touring.
Those deals landed during a period of expansion for Primary Wave, whose acquisition of Kobalt closed on July 7 in a transaction worth around USD $1.5 billion.
The company closed its fourth flagship music fund at $2.225 billion in April, exceeding both its $1.5 billion target and its $2 billion hard cap.
Primary Wave, which describes itself as the leading independent publisher of iconic and legendary music in the world, was founded by Mestel in 2006.
Its portfolio spans rights in the music of Bob Marley, Prince, Whitney Houston, James Brown, Ray Charles, and Smokey Robinson, among others.Music Business Worldwide