Primary Wave has acquired an interest in the work of “incomparable” violinist Itzhak Perlman – including a stake in “all” the 79-year-old’s recordings. Moving forward, Primary Wave and the Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Perlman intend to jointly explore marketing initiatives, sync opportunities, and new film and TV projects, per the involved parties.
The firm is pleased to announce that Lisa Alter and Katie Baron have been selected for inclusion in
The Hollywood Reporter’s 2024 “Top Music Lawyers” issue, which celebrates influential attorneys who are championing landmark deals, groundbreaking negotiations, and the protection of creative talent. According to
THR, the feature is intended to honor the listed attorneys’ dedication, expertise, and influence, and shines a light on the unsung heroes who ensure artists and their labels thrive.
To view the full issue with Lisa and Katie’s profile, click below.
Joyce Dollinger will be organizing and co-chairing the New York State Bar Association’s Entertainment, Arts & Sports Law Section’s Fall Meeting 2024 Day II: Music, Business and Law Conference, taking place in NYC on Friday, November 1, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will be a full day of outstanding legal and financial panels on the Music Industry, featuring a keynote session with Bill Werde, Director of the Bandier Music Business Program and Jeff Harleston of Universal Music Group. This lunchtime conversation will share perspectives informed by Jeff's many areas of responsibility, including broad trends in label deals, legislative issues, anti-piracy and fraud initiatives, emerging markets and technologies, including the ways AI is shaping tomorrow's challenges and opportunities. The conversation will also touch on Jeff's important work with the UMG Task Force for Meaningful Change, an organization formed within UMG to implement social change initiatives directed at the Black and Latino communities.
Panels that day will discuss:
- Navigating the Beat: Hot Button Issues in the Music Industry
- The Economics and Power of Artist Owned Companies
- Independent Distribution
- Foreign Publishing and Neighboring Rights
- Litigation on the Music Front
For further information and to register, please click below.
EASL Fall Meeting 2024 Day II: Music, Business and Law Conference
Primary Wave Music has announced that it has struck a deal with the estate of the legendary country and folk singer-songwriter, Jerry Jeff Walker. The deal will see the publishing company partner with the estate on Walker’s music publishing catalog as well as his recording copyrights and artist royalties. Primary Wave added that this new relationship will also provide the estate access to the company’s marketing team and publishing infrastructure, working closely on new marketing, branding, digital, and synch opportunities, as well as film & television projects.
Joyce Dollinger will be moderating the webinar, “Music This Election Season: From the Court Room to the Club,” for the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) on Monday, October 28, at 5:30 pm EST. The webinar will feature two timely one-on-one conversations. The first will be with attorney Larry Iser, who has represented musicians in legal cases with politicians over the unauthorized use of their music. Larry will shed light on the essential legalities surrounding music use in audio visual works and live events including when permission needs to be granted for such uses and possible remedies for unauthorized use. Larry will then be followed by Emily White, CEO of #iVoted Concerts and a leader of the Music Votes coalition. #iVoted Concerts produces concerts on election night and during early voting periods that statistically increase civic impact.
For further information and to register, please click below.
Music This Election Season: From the Court Room to the Club — AIMP Webinar
The estate of Ric Ocasek and Primary Wave Music have announced a new partnership that will see the company acquiring the publishing catalog of the late cofounder and songwriter of the Cars, including all of his songs from work as a solo artist as well as his stint with the Cars.
Irving Azoff’s Iconic Artists Group and LL Cool J’s Rock The Bells hip-hop platform have entered into a partnership with rapper RZA centered around the music of the legendary hip-hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. The partnership encompasses Wu-Tang Clan’s catalog, including such seminal albums as Enter the Wu-Tang Clan (36 Chambers), Wu-Tang Forever and The W, but goes well beyond that with a plan to expand Wu-Tang’s music to film, TV, merchandise, and brand partnerships.
The firm is pleased to announce that Lisa Alter, Katie Baron, James Kendrick, and Joyce Dollinger will appear in the 2025 edition of "The Best Lawyers in America,” one of the oldest and most respected guides to the legal profession. The selections are based on a comprehensive peer-review process that captures the consensus opinion of leading lawyers regarding the professional abilities of colleagues within common legal practices and geographical areas. Lisa, Katie, James, and Joyce were all honored for their outstanding work in the practice areas of “Copyright Law” and “Entertainment Law - Music.”
Additionally, “Best Lawyers in America” named Zachary Blumenfeld, Jaclyn Felber, and Madison Smiley to its 2025 “Ones to Watch” list for "Entertainment and Sports Law" and "Intellectual Property Law."
The firm also extends a special congratulations to James Kendrick for being named by "Best Lawyers” as its 2025 “Lawyer of the Year” for the New York City area in the specialty of "Entertainment Law - Music.” Only one attorney in each practice area and in each region is named a “Lawyer of the Year.” Attorneys are selected as a “Lawyer of the Year” only if the number of votes received “indicates a clear leader” in the field.
Primary Wave Music has acquired the writer’s and producer shares of songwriter and musician Keith Forsey. Terms of the deal include Forsey’s writing and production on songs such as “What A Feeling”, “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”, “Hot Stuff”, “White Wedding”, “Rebel Yell”, and more. Also included are songs he wrote for a number of films including Flashdance, The Breakfast Club, Ghostbusters, The NeverEnding Story, Beverly Hills Cop and others.
Primary Wave has announced it’s acquiring the catalog of Nuno Bettencourt, the guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer known best as the lead guitarist of 90s hard rock band Extreme.
