Irving Azoff buys again, as Iconic snaps up Linda Ronstadt recorded music rights

Irving Azoff’s new venture Iconic Artists Group has acquired again.

Multi-Grammy award-winning artist Linda Ronstadt has sold her recorded music assets to the company for an undisclosed sum.

According to the company, the deal will see Iconic partner with Ronstadt and her team (Manager, John Boylan and Personal Assistant, Janet Stark) to market her catalog and “preserve her legacy in the digital era”.

Today’s news marks the third deal to be announced by Iconic in the past few weeks, following the recent acquisition of David Crosby’s publishing and recorded music rights, comprising his solo work, as well as his work with The Byrds; Crosby & Nash; Crosby, Stills & Nash; and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

Additionally, Azoff’s company acquired a controlling stake in the Beach Boys’ intellectual property last month, including the band’s sound recordings, brand, select musical compositions, and memorabilia.

Linda Ronstadt is one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time, having sung on over 120 albums, with at least 31 gold and platinum records, and having sold more than 100 million records worldwide.

She is known for her hits and covers of songs such as Roy Orbison’s Blue Bayou, Eagles’ Desperado, and The Everly Brothers’ When Will I Be Loved, to name just a few.

Ronstadt has won 11 Grammy Awards, three American Music Awards, two Academy of Country Music Awards, an Emmy, and an ALMA Award.

She won her eleventh Grammy for Best Music Film for her documentary Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice during at this month’s Grammys.

She was also awarded the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011, inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, honored by President Barack Obama with the National Medal of Arts in 2014, and received the Kennedy Center Honors lifetime artistic achievement in 2019.

Azoff’s Iconic Artists Group is described as “a brand development and management company dedicated to building a portfolio of iconic entertainment artists, creators and brands”.

“We acquire and/or manage brands with the goal of providing a perennial solution to protect, curate and develop their legacy into the future,” writes the Los Angeles-based firm on its LinkedIn profile, which states that it was founded in 2018.

Iconic also says that it “feels a void in the music business for legendary artists” and adds that it is “dedicated to acquiring, and actively managing a portfolio of select artists’ assets and preserving the important legacy of these music icons”.

“It’s extremely gratifying to be in the company of Irving Azoff, his team, and his family of great artists, many of whom have been my friends and colleagues for years.”

Linda Ronstadt

“I’m very pleased about this partnership,” said Ronstadt.

“It’s extremely gratifying to be in the company of Irving Azoff, his team, and his family of great artists, many of whom have been my friends and colleagues for years. It feels like home.”

“Linda’s talent is unparalleled, but her courage and commitment to make important music of many genres is her legacy. We will preserve that legacy for her at all costs. Thank you, Linda and John. We won’t let you down.”

Irving Azoff

Chairman and CEO of The Azoff Company Irving Azoff added: “In 1972 when I arrived in Los Angeles to pursue my dreams in the music business, as fate would have it, I soon thereafter became best friends and manager to Glenn Frey and Don Henley.  Without Linda Ronstadt and John Boylan, there would have never been an Eagles.

“We were friends and family and grew up together, and what a ride it has been. The countless tours together with the Eagles and Linda and their collaborations are the backbone of the history of Southern California music.

“For Linda and John to entrust us with the honor of furthering her work is one of the most satisfying moments of my career.

“Linda’s talent is unparalleled, but her courage and commitment to make important music of many genres is her legacy. We will preserve that legacy for her at all costs. Thank you, Linda and John. We won’t let you down.”

 Music Business Worldwide