Primary Wave Music Inks Catalog Deal With Mary J. Blige

Independent music publisher Primary Wave Music has entered a partnership with nine-time GRAMMY winner Mary J. Blige.

The deal:

• Primary Wave will work alongside Blige on her catalog of compositions and recordings.

• The deal includes songs from across her career, including “My Life,” “Mary Jane (All Night Long),” “Family Affair,” “Be Happy,” “Be Without You,” and more.

• Blige and her team will have access to Primary Wave’s marketing and publishing infrastructure, with the potential for working closely on new music marketing, branding, digital, and sync opportunities.

• Financial terms were not disclosed, and the announcement did not specify whether Primary Wave has acquired an ownership stake in the rights.

Why it matters:

• Blige is one of hip-hop and R&B’s most acclaimed artists, and to date has sold more than 50 million records worldwide.

• She’s won nine GRAMMY Awards from 37 nominations, alongside 12 Billboard Music Awards, four American Music Awards, and 12 NAACP Image Awards.

• She was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2024.

Primary moves:

• The agreement is the latest in a series of catalog deals for Primary Wave, which recently partnered with The Verve Pipe’s Brian Vander Ark on his publishing and recorded music catalog; Savage Garden’s Daniel Jones on his songwriting catalog; and the estate of Wilson Pickett on a stake in the soul singer’s catalog and his name, image, and likeness rights.

What they said:

• Natalia Nastaskin, Chief Content Officer, Primary Wave: “From the moment I heard ‘You Remind Me’ on NY’s KISS-FM, I became a Day 1 Mary J. Blige fan. For over 30 years, she has gifted the world with hit after undeniable hit and in the process has created the soundtrack of our lives. To partner with the Queen herself on her extraordinary catalog and her everlasting legacy is an honor for me and for our entire Primary Wave team.”