Stevie Nicks Sells a Share of Her Publishing Rights for $100 Million
 

Stevie Nicks Sells a Share of Her Publishing Rights for $100 Million

Nicks joins a number of major artists who’ve sold their catalog rights to investors and talent management companies this year

Ethan Millman December 4, 2020 11:49AM ET
Stevie Nicks has sold a majority of her publishing catalog to publisher and talent management company Primary Wave, the company announced Friday, with the Fleetwood Mac star becoming one of the highest-profile artists to capitalize on the booming song publishing acquisition market to date.

Primary Wave didn’t share financial details of the sale, but The Wall Street Journal reported that Nicks sold an 80% stake in the catalog, valuing the deal at about $100 million. The deal includes several of Nicks’s biggest hits as a solo artist and member of Fleetwood Mac including “Landslide,” “Edge of Seventeen” and “Dreams,” the last of which returned the charts for the first time in 40 years after resurfacing on TikTok.

Primary Wave has previously purchased stakes in several prominent artist catalogs like Disturbed and Ray Charles.

“To say we’re excited to welcome the incredible Stevie Nicks to the Primary Wave family would be a dramatic understatement,” Primary Wave’s founder and CEO Larry Mestel said in a statement. “If Primary Wave were starting our company today, Stevie Nicks would be one of the shining pillars, a true legend among legends. She is a groundbreaking artist, and the longevity of her iconic career comes from writing songs, instantly recognizable and critically acclaimed, that stand the test of time.”

Along with the catalog purchase, Primary Wave also has access to Nicks’s name and likeness, and has established a partnership with the singer to allow her to sign new songwriters in a joint venture.

The songwriting acquisition game has grown exponentially in recent years, with companies like Primary Wave and Merck Mercuriadis’s Hipgnosis Songs Fund buying up catalogs at significantly higher multiples than the previous norm. Sources familiar with these deals have said they’ve seen purchases for as high as 30 times a catalog’s value.

These companies are taking hefty bets that they can make money by acquiring a smaller but selective catalog collection they can leverage through tv, movie and video game synch licensing as well as other copyright opportunities like merchandising.

As Mercuriadis, who recently acquired catalogs from artists like Jack Antonoff and Richie Sambora, previously told Rolling Stone: “We have 21, 22 people with 500 songs per person, versus the majors who have 20,000 per person. I want to actively manage these songs with the same responsibility that I manage artists. I hate the concept of publishing, I want to destroy that word and replace it with song management.”

Some insiders, however, expect the market could taper off under Joe Biden’s presidency, depending on what he does with capital gains legislation. Those taxes had been much lower under the Trump administration, providing more incentive for artists to sell their catalogs to face less taxes after the purchase. But these song-hungry companies won’t be going away — and in any case, may just have to pay even more to artists to keep their deals enticing.

https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/new...-wave-1098850/

Well new album sales are a bust and she may never be able to mount another huge cash grab tour to equal all the past ones so a girl has to do something to keep herself in the style to which she has become accustomed.

She literally has nobody to leave this money too when she kicks the bucket. Why sell?

She believes that she will live another 30 years..She wants to continue to live a fabulous rock star life .It was predictable.

$he really does think that.

$he's nuttier than a squirrel turd.

Typical Hollywood. Rail against the economic policies of 15 percent capital gains rates — and then scramble to take advantage of them before they’re a thing of the past.

But does this deal mean that computer games and TV commercials are going to use Stevie’s songs a lot more now? What does this deal actually do? It’s not entirely clear. And Stevie’s image?! Now belongs to someone else? This is weirder than Rappaccini’s Daughter, or Fräulein von Scuderi.

I look forward to hearing "Edge of Seventeen" while some pharmaceutical company is peddling a drug to combat hot flashes

They'll overdub it, Edge Of Seventy Five!

When you used to be hip, but now just need a new hip!

Yes, this was even more shocking. You look at people like Elvis whose estate makes more money now off his image and music than when he was alive. Same for Michael Jackson, and surely will be the case for Prince as well.

has there been a falling out within the family, where she doesn't trust possible heirs (Her brother, her niece, the niece's husband?) to properly and respectfully manage her likeness?? Who at the company who bought this gave her assurances that her face wouldn't appear on godknowswhat products? And really, how long will that person realistically be in charge of the company she sold her image to? Those people come and go like cramps, and further they can turn around and sell your music and image to yet another investment fund.

Kind of ironic when you look at the lengths a younger artist like Taylor Swift is going to to get rights to her own music and image back from an ex-manager and ex-label who don't care much about them. Would Howard have encouraged her to do this deal?? :eek: The managers, lawyers etc who broker these deals get a healthy fee based on sale price. Who's zooming who?

I will be looking forward to purchasing some Stevie Nix pubic lice shampoo with her smiling image swatting away a crab on the bottle.

:lol: :eek:

Reminds me of Carrie Fisher's joke about having (unwittingly) sold rights to her likeness to George Lucas as part of the first Star Wars movie... and then seeing herself as a shampoo bottle where the top was her head that you screwed off to use the shampoo, or as a Pez dispenser where you tilted her head back and the Pez candy came out of her neck. She further joked that every time she looked in the mirror she had to pay Lucas a dollar in royalties.

The timing is interesting---just in time for the holidays---Get your Stevie Nicks Boxer shorts--the perfect Stocking Stuffer

I am not sure what her brother has done but sell t-shirts at FM and SN concerts, so you can't fault her for wrestling possible control from him. And if Mick got his paws on her likeness, there would likely be a joint venture with the makers of Trojan or something completely off kilter like that. But I agree, the lengths to which Taylor Swift is going to get her rights back, and even what you've seen Elvis' and Sinatra's estates do to preserve the integrity of their likeness and being, it's an odd move. Perhaps she really doesn't have anyone in her inner circle she trusts this too....and she gets another $100mm in the bank. No need for another cash grab tour now. Mick is FREAKING OUT

Didn't Christine sell her songs off years ago?

Omg, I'll order a case! I mean, I don't have crabs, but I will decorate my house accordingly.

$tevie Nits Crab House. Pardon the smell. Nit picking is allowed.

Maybe she's closing on a place in Maui. She is so wealthy.

Does this sale have anything to do with getting her Rhiannon film/television series done?

Yes. For 34 million(dollars or pounds), if memory serves.

She is probably selling most of the rights because she is old and wants the money now before she dies. Her songs are a long term investment. They plan on making money from them over a long period time, decades. Stevie is cashing in while she is still alive. It also looks likes she didn’t sell all the rights. Just 80%. So she didn’t sell everything. 100 million is a lot of money for songs that over 30 or 40 years old. Christine sold her rights decades ago.

Stevie Nicks Sells Publishing Stake to Primary Wave Music


Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac performs onstage during the 2018 iHeartRadio Music Festival at T-Mobile Arena on September 21, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMedia
Legendary singer-songwriter and Fleetwood Mac frontwoman Stevie Nicks has struck a new and far-reaching partnership with Primary Wave Music Publishing, which spans a joint venture, majority stake in her copyrights and more, the company announced Friday (Dec. 4).

Under the deal, Primary Wave will acquire a majority stake in Nicks' publishing copyrights, as well as her name and likeness, partnering with Kobalt on administration for the catalog. That includes solo hits like "Edge of Seventeen" and "Stand Back," along with Fleetwood Mac classics such as "Landslide" and "Dreams" -- the last of which recently enjoyed a TikTok-fueled resurgence, landing Nicks atop Billboard's Hot 100 Songwriters chart.

Additionally, Primary Wave will represent Nicks in brand alliance and brand marketing opportunities, and offer the artist access to its marketing, branding, Broadway, film and television, digital strategy, licensing and synch teams. Finally, the deal also calls for a strategic publishing alliance that will allow Nicks to sign new songwriters to a joint venture.

"To say we’re excited to welcome the incredible Stevie Nicks to the Primary Wave family would be a dramatic understatement," said Primary Wave founder/CEO Larry Mestel in a statement. "If Primary Wave were starting our company today, Stevie Nicks would be one of the shining pillars, a true legend among legends."

"She is a groundbreaking artist," he continued, "and the longevity of her iconic career comes from writing songs, instantly recognizable and critically acclaimed, that stand the test of time."

Over the course of her career, the 72-year-old Nicks has earned five Grammy Award nominations and a win for album of the year (Rumours) as part of Fleetwood Mac, as well as another eight Grammy nominations as a solo artist. She is the only woman to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice: First in 1998 as a member of Fleetwood Mac, and again last year as a solo artist.

Nicks' longtime manager Sheryl Louis and attorney Jamie Young negotiated the deal.

The announcement comes as Joe Biden's win in the U.S. presidential election has some songwriters scrambling to sell their publishing rights. Biden has proposed increasing the top federal tax rate on capital gains from 20% to 40%, and such a change would raise tax bills for songwriters selling major catalogs considerably. Meanwhile, this year has seen unprecedented publishing deal prices -- as songwriters look for another source of revenue amid the pandemic and investors view publishing as a stable investment at an uncertain time.

Indeed, 2020 has seen a surge in sales of major catalogs. Calvin Harris sold his publishing catalog to Vine Alternative Investments for an estimated more than $90 million; The Killers sold their pre-2020 song catalog to holding company Eldridge; and Primary Wave spent multiple millions to acquire a majority stake in Ray Charles' pre-1964 publishing catalog, while Hipgnosis Songs Fund has been behind upwards of 15 major publishing deals this year, including the catalogs of Bon Jovi's Richie Sambora, Mark Ronson, RedOne and Blondie's Debbie Harry and Chris Stein, and its $322 million acquisition last month of 33,000 songs from Kobalt Music Copyrights Fund 1.

Billboard Pro subscribers can learn more about this year's publishing deal binge in the new "Songs For Sale" Deep Dive here and corresponding Spotlight virtual event here.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bil...ary-wave-music

I hope for her sake it was pounds.

Stevie can't possibly need $100 million to ensure her comfort and care in her elderly years. If she doesn't have enough to live on until she dies already I'd be pretty shocked... Did LB sell his catalogue? Was she able to get more for hers? Old petty competitions never really die....

Yeah, but $tevie needs a STAFF. Can you imagine how many people it requires to take care of her?

I can only imagine that Christine would hate a staff, and probably only have one assistant in her life. I'm just guessing, though. Just basing it on their personalities. One needy AF. One not.

She's just a sell out. Like she needs the money :rolleyes:

Right but again she believes that she is going to live into the triple digits so in her deluded mind she is going to need it for the next three decades at least.:rolleyes:

It was a smart move on her behalf. Biden is going to double the tax rate. Many artists are scrambling to sell their rights before he takes office.

You know, I'd never even considered that. I would be shocked if $he would be smart enough to think of that.

No doubt it was probably Irving's idea.

See the article posted above. The United States is about to be taxed to death.

Ha! Yes. “Lather up with Leia and feel like a princess yourself!”

Remember when McCartney sold his or the Beatles and Michael Jackson bought the rights and used them for quick cash sell out for commercials. McCartney hated that and wanted to buy them back. It was the end of their relationship.

So who can come up with clever commercial jingles out of Stevie songs.


Best Buy Best Buy
In the middle of your living room you need a new TV set
Its all right its all right
To be standing in the black Friday line
Standing in that line


Well maybe you've been concerned if your house is all on fire
Every time that you walk through those rooms
There are assets all around you
That you do know yourself
We've known this much longer than we've known you
Maybe its time to call Allstate insurance

As you say it’s in the article
That’s the exact reason she s made the deal...20% to 40% tax hike, big difference, when you’re talking of 100million..
She has advisers to explain how to handle her great wealth, she won’t have thought this up...

:lol:

This reminds me of the thread where we re-wrote FM lyrics to all be about passing gas. There was a some real talent there.

These are good, but I've made a small tweak:

Best Buy Best Buy
In the middle of your living room you need a new TV set
Well....Its all right its all right
To be standing in the black Friday line
Standing in that line

All the women in her family live to that age. Why shouldn’t she?

He hasn’t and I really hope he doesn’t.

Years of cocaine addiction leading to heart damage? Seems like a valid answer, doesn't it?

Just been announced....Bob Dylan sold his back catalogue.
To Universal music Publishing...
For 300 million dollars

Sue.... WOULD YOU SAY THAT TO BOB DYLAN? :mad:






:lol::lol::lol:

Hahaha.
My favourite Bob line is ...Are you rollin’ Bob?..
not sure if he said it, I think it’s somewhere on Nashville Skyline
My husband, Robert, loves Bob
So I say it a lot

She'll be just fine with her tax increase...most people would retire for 30 years on what her investment returns probably net in two weeks time.

Yes, I saw that on my news alerts this morning. I thought, “Jondalar was right!”

But the years of cardio, aerobics and ballet as she spun, kicked and twirled her way into hearts kept her fit. Her Aunt Minnie never had that going for her.

If Stevie rewrites this jingle, I fully expect her to mishear and change it to standing in a magical place named Blafadaline. (See: Emmeline, Seven Wonders)