Trust Records Partners with Bad Brains

Bad Brains, the influential hardcore band that formed in Washington DC in 1978, has partnered with Trust Records to ensure the group’s music is available for future generations.

The deal:

• The partnership will govern and administer the entirety of Bad Brains’ owned and controlled intellectual property.

• This includes music publishing, recorded music, name and likeness, trademark and visual IP.

• It includes the band’s 1982 self-titled debut album, as well as 1983’s Rock For Light, 1986’s I Against I and 1989’s Quickness.

Advisory board:

• Bassist Darryl Jenifer will also serve on an Artist Advisory Board, which will help guide the future creative vision of Trust Records.

Hardcore history:

• Trust was co-founded in 2020 by Matt Pincus, former Co-Founder of SONGS Music Publishing and Founder of $200 million investment firm MUSIC.

• It’s home to legendary punk and hardcore bands such as Circle Jerks, 7Seconds, Youth Brigade, DFL and more.

Backstory:

• As per Music Business Worldwide, having signed The Weeknd, Diplo and Lorde, Pincus sold SONGS Music Publishing to Kobalt Capital for around $160 million in 2017.

• MUSIC has invested in music tech (Splice, HIFI, DICE), indie labels (LVRN), and B2B services (Soundtrack Your Brand).

What they said:

• Darryl Jenifer, Bad Brains bassist: “After 40-plus years of forging the spirit PMA [positive mental attitude] through our brand of progressive punk rock aka Hardcore, I'm happy that Bad Brains will be sharing the wheel with trust in our ongoing quest to keep Bad Brains alive in the hearts and minds of our supporters as we step into the future. Trust’s love and knowledge of Bad Brains and the PMA ethos makes them a perfect match to partner with as we keep Bad Brains Sailin’ On. Stay tuned for what's next to come. One love and a hefty dose of PMA.”

• Matt Pincus: “We started Trust Records to promote, preserve, and protect punk and hardcore music and the culture that surrounds it. Bad Brains is the absolute top of the mountain in punk and hardcore. They taught the rest of us how to do it. It is the highest honor to partner with Darryl and Bad Brains in the stewardship of their iconic work.”