Wilson Pickett Estate Partners with Primary Wave
Primary Wave Music has formed a partnership with Wilson Pickett's estate, acquiring a stake in his publishing catalog and rights to his name, image, and
Primary Wave Music has struck a partnership with the estate of the late soul singer Wilson Pickett. The agreement, announced on Wednesday, September 2, gives the company a stake in Pickett's music publishing catalog and a share in his name, image, and likeness rights.
Financial terms were not disclosed. The estate will gain access to Primary Wave's marketing team and publishing infrastructure. The two sides plan to collaborate on new marketing, branding, digital, and sync opportunities, as well as film and television projects.
A Legacy of Hits
Wilson Pickett, who died on January 19, 2006, at age 64, recorded more than 50 songs that reached the US R&B charts. Many crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100. His best-known recordings include In the Midnight Hour, which he co-wrote, plus his versions of Mustang Sally and Land of 1000 Dances.
Primary Wave provided chart and sales data for several of Pickett's signature songs. The information is presented in the table below.
| Song | Release Year | R&B Chart Peak | Billboard Hot 100 Peak | Notable Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In the Midnight Hour | 1965 | No. 1 | No. 21 | Sold over 1 million copies; Grammy nomination |
| Mustang Sally | 1966 | No. 6 | No. 23 | Inducted into Grammy Hall of Fame in 2000 |
| Land of 1000 Dances | 1966 | No. 1 | No. 6 | Sold over 1 million copies |
In the Midnight Hour was co-written with Steve Cropper. Primary Wave acquired Cropper's publishing catalog in 2016, putting the company on both sides of that song's writer credit.
Family and Executive Statements
Max Pickett, the singer's brother, spoke about the partnership. "Promoting my brother's incredible legacy has not only been a responsibility; it has been a labor of absolute love," he said. Max Pickett added that he was "profoundly grateful to partner with Primary Wave, stewards who truly understand the weight of his history and the timeless power of his sound."
David Weitzman, a Partner at Primary Wave, also commented. "Primary Wave is honored to partner with Max Pickett and the Pickett family to help preserve and expand the legacy of one of the most influential artists in music history," Weitzman said. He described Wilson Pickett as "a once in a generation talent, an iconic soul singer, electrifying performer, and one of the defining voices of American music."
Accolades and Influence
Pickett was a five-time Grammy nominee. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991. He received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1993, entered the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame in 2005, and was inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame in 2024.
His work was created with legendary collaborators. Primary Wave cited Jerry Wexler, the Stax Records team, the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, and Gamble & Huff. Songs written by Pickett have been recorded by acts including Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Booker T. & The MGs, Genesis, Los Lobos, and Bruce Springsteen.
Primary Wave's Expanding Portfolio
This deal is the latest in a series of catalog and name, image, and likeness partnerships for the Larry Mestel-led company. In June, Primary Wave struck a deal with the estate of Donna Summer covering her catalog, recordings, and name, image, and likeness rights. In July, it partnered with Foreigner co-founder Mick Jones, covering his publishing and recording catalogs plus the band's name, image, likeness, and touring.
These deals occurred during a period of expansion. Primary Wave's acquisition of Kobalt closed on July 7 in a transaction worth around USD $1.5 billion. The company closed its fourth flagship music fund at $2.225 billion in April, exceeding both its $1.5 billion target and its $2 billion hard cap. Founded by Mestel in 2006, Primary Wave's portfolio spans rights in the music of Bob Marley, Prince, Whitney Houston, James Brown, Ray Charles, and Smokey Robinson.
