Primary Wave Buys Stake in Itzhak Perlman’s Recorded Royalties

Primary Wave has partnered with Itzhak Perlman, buying a stake in the violinist’s royalties from the dozens of recordings he has issued or appeared on in his five-decade-plus career, the company tells Billboard. The agreement also includes image and likeness rights. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. 

According to Luminate, Perlman’s U.S. album consumption totals about 469,000 units. He’s also received 47 Grammy nominations, winning 16 times, according to Primary Wave. Other honors include a Presidential Medal of Freedom, a National Medal of Arts, a Medal of Liberty, four Emmy Awards, a Kennedy Center Honor and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

As part of the deal, Primary Wave’s marketing team and publishing infrastructure will work closely with Perlman on new marketing, branding, digital and synch opportunities, as well as film and TV projects. 

“I am excited to work with Primary Wave to see what plans they develop to take care of my recordings and to see what new opportunities they bring to the table,” Perlman said in a statement. 

The deal covers such recordings as “Vivaldi: Four Seasons – Spring,” “Vivaldi: Four Seasons – Winter” and “Vivaldi: Four Seasons – Summer” as well as  “Black Orpheus: Manha De Carnaval,” “24 Caprices, Op. 1,” “Concerto For Violin and Orchestra I,” “Violin Concerto, Op. 35” and others.  

“Itzhak Perlman is hands-down the greatest violinist of our time,” Lexi Todd, vp of business & legal affairs at Primary Wave, said in a statement. “It is a true honor to have had the pleasure to work with Mr. Perlman and his team on this partnership, and we are all looking forward to working together on new opportunities to spread his undeniable musicianship and his incredible story.”