Primary Wave Music has struck up a new partnership with Grammy-nominated band the Cars.
The company said that the terms of the deal will see it acquire the band’s artist royalties. The deal comes less than a year after Primary Wave struck a “multi-million-dollar” partnership with the estate of Ric Ocasek on his music publishing catalog, including all songs from his time with the Cars.,
Included in the latest deal with the Cars are some of the band’s biggest hits, such as Just What I Needed, You Might Think, My Best Friend’s Girl, Drive, and others.
Released in 1984, Drive was the band’s highest charting single, hitting No.3 on the Billboard Hot 100 upon release.
The song topped the Adult Contemporary chart and was nominated for a Grammy in the “Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal” category.
Several other hits from the Cars’ catalog are included in the deal, like My Best Friend’s Girl, You Might Think, and Just What I Needed.
Released in 1978, Just What I Needed was the first single from Cars’ debut album, and the most successful single from the self-titled release.
“Together with last year’s partnership for Ric Ocasek’s publishing, Primary Wave is uniquely positioned to preserve and honor the legacy of The Cars,” said Samantha Rhulen, SVP of Business and Legal Affairs at Primary Wave.
“Their music has left a lasting imprint on culture and continues to inspire fans and musicians around the world. It’s a privilege to be entrusted with this partnership.”
Samantha Rhulen, Primary Wave
Added Rhulen: “Their music has left a lasting imprint on culture and continues to inspire fans and musicians around the world.
“It’s a privilege to be entrusted with this partnership.”
The Cars formed in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1976.
Fronted by singer, songwriter, and rhythm guitarist Ric Ocasek, bassist and vocalist Benjamin Orr, lead guitarist Elliot Easton, keyboardist Greg Hawkes, and drummer David Robinson.
The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.
This marks Primary Wave’s latest deal, following the company’s acquisition of a stake in the Biggie Smalls catalog in March, which was reported to have valued the artist’s estate at $200 million.
Primary Wave’s portfolio also includes rights to works by Bob Marley, Whitney Houston, Stevie Nicks, and Luther Vandross.
The company’s other recent moves include signing a marketing and publishing administration deal with Grammy-winning songwriter and performer Jimmy Webb, along with deals with the estate of country and folk singer-songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker, Grammy-winning violinist Itzhak Perlman, and Feels So Good composer Chuck Mangione.
Primary Wave has also recently acquired the catalog of Nuno Bettencourt of 90s rock band Extreme; inked a publishing partnership with alt-rock band The Spin Doctors; and signed a music rights deal with Neil Finn of Crowded House.
The company also struck a deal for the recorded, publishing, brand and name and likeness rights of The Village People of YMCA fame; a catalog deal with the estate of songwriter and musician P.F. Sloan; and a stake in the catalog of singer/songwriter Neil Sedaka.
Primary Wave’s acquisition spree has been powered by a $2 billion partnership with Brookfield Asset Management in 2022, which saw the firm take a minority stake in the New York-headquartered music publisher founded and led by Larry Mestel.Music Business Worldwide
