Producer Jon Landau (pictured) has finalized a song-rights deal with Primary Wave. Photo Credit: Primary Wave
Primary Wave has officially invested in the IP of veteran manager and Bruce Springsteen producer Jon Landau.
New York City-based Primary Wave and 77-year-old Landau (not to be confused with the Avatar producer of the same name) reached out with word of the purchase. Extending specifically to “producer royalties and neighboring rights royalties,” the deal includes Landau’s work with Jackson Browne and Bruce Springsteen.
Regarding the latter professional (who’s already coming up on the third anniversary of his catalog sale to Sony Music), Landau has production credits on several Springsteen albums, chief among them 1975’s Born to Run and 1984’s Born in the U.S.A.
Additionally, the all-encompassing agreement extends to Landau’s production work with MC5 (1970’s Back in the USA), Livingston Taylor (an eponymous 1970 debut and the 1971 follow-up Liv), the aforementioned Browne (1976’s The Pretender), and more.
The involved parties opted against publicly disclosing the financials behind the transaction, which was “facilitated” by David Simone and Winston Simone of DSW Entertainment. (DSW’s clients include E Street Band mainstay Little Steven, himself a producer on Born in the U.S.A. and other Springsteen efforts.)
However, Landau in a statement made clear a goal of maintaining a working relationship with Primary Wave.
“I thank all at Primary Wave for recognizing my contributions over the last fifty years and look forward to having an ongoing and productive relationship with them,” said the former Rock Hall of Fame Nominating Committee chair.
And in remarks of his own, Primary Wave global sync president Marty Silverstone touted Landau’s influence and career accomplishments.
“We’re honored to be partnering with Jon Landau and all of the legendary music he helped shape. He’s an influential figure in music, and we’re proud to welcome him to the Primary Wave family,” communicated the Primary Wave exec of nearly 15 years.
Notwithstanding the transaction-volume slowdown hitting the wider IP-acquisition space, Primary Wave has closed a number of investments on the year.
During the past month and change alone, those plays have included a “multi-million-dollar” partnership with Toto founding member Steve Porcaro as well as an investment in the writer and producer shares of “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” producer-songwriter Keith Forsey.
Furthermore, as compiled by DMN Pro’s Music IP Acquisition Tracker, among the other catalog investments wrapped during August’s opening half are Reach Music Publishing’s deal with Wyatt Durrette and HarbourView Equity Partners’ pact with Noel Zancanella.
But the sub-sector hasn’t been without not-so-positive headlines this month, as Hipgnosis, we reported yesterday, is suing Barry Manilow over a contractual dispute. Concrete details about the High Court action are difficult to come by at present.
Nevertheless, it goes without saying that the litigation, set in motion more than four years after Manilow sold his work, may make others think twice about exploring deals with Hipgnosis.
