Music Biz

Primary Wave Secures Wilson Pickett's Legacy

The soul legend's estate just handed over his catalog and likeness to one of music's biggest rights companies.

Primary Wave locked in a deal with the Wilson Pickett estate this week, scooping up the soul icon's publishing catalog alongside his name, image, and likeness rights. Money stayed quiet—that's standard in these things—but the move signals how serious catalogs have become as assets.

Pickett wasn't just another voice. "Mustang Sally," "In the Midnight Hour," "Land of 1,000 Dances"—the man had hits that defined a whole era of soul and R&B. His songwriting legacy alone carries real weight, which is exactly why Primary Wave was interested.

This is the kind of deal happening constantly now: estate holders realizing their artists' work is worth managing professionally, and companies like Primary Wave building empires on acquisition and smart exploitation. It's not romantic, but it's the business.

For Pickett's memory and those timeless records, at least they're in hands that know how to leverage catalog value in 2024—licensing, sampling, sync placements, the whole ecosystem. That beats sitting dormant.


Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide → https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/wilson-pickett-estate-strikes-deal-with-primary-wave-covering-publishing-catalog-and-name-image-likeness-rights/

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