Indie music publisher Primary Wave has announced it’s acquiring the catalog of Nuno Bettencourt, the guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer known best as the lead guitarist of 90s hard rock band Extreme.
Primary Wave is acquiring Bettencourt’s publishing and administrative rights, plus his recordings interests, across all songs by Extreme as well as Bettencourt’s solo work, with the exception of Extreme’s 2023 album, SIX.
As part of the new partnership, Bettencourt will gain access to Primary Wave’s marketing team and publishing infrastructure, which includes digital strategy, licensing, and synch and film and TV opportunities.
Primary Wave didn’t disclose the deal’s value.
Extreme’s tracks include Hole Hearted, Rest In Peace, Dance Decadence, and its biggest hit, More Than Words, which was the third single off the band’s 1991 album Pornograffiti.
The band reportedly fought to have More Than Words released as a single, and that proved to be worth the effort, as the track reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and led to Pornograffiti landing in the Top 10 on the Billboard 200. The album was certified double Platinum, and More Than Words led to Extreme’s first Grammy nomination.
The Boston-based band went on to sell more than 10 million albums worldwide.
“After getting to know… the team at Primary Wave and seeing their passion, work ethic and creative ideas in action, I am happy now to have a bigger partnership with them,” Bettencourt said in a statement. ”I look forward to continu[ing] building my song catalog into new realms of activity.”
Adam Lowenberg, Primary Wave’s Chief Marketing Officer, added, “I am beyond thrilled to have Nuno join the Primary Wave family. He is one of the greatest guitar players and songwriters in the history of rock music and one of my personal favorite musicians of all time. We can’t wait to dive into this catalog and remind fans, new and old, of its greatness.”
”I look forward to continu[ing] building my song catalog into new realms of activity.”
Nuno Bettencourt
In the decades since Extreme’s rise to fame, Bettencourt has collaborated with numerous musicians, playing guitar for the likes of Steven Tyler, Janet Jackson, Rihanna, Perry Farrell and Steve Perry, among others.
Bettencourt released his first solo album, Schizophonic, in 1997, and in 1998 he formed the band Mourning Widows, which released two albums before the band broke up.
In 2006, Bettencourt joined forces with Perry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction for a project that featured Bettencourt as lead guitarist. Since 2009, he has been the guitarist for four world tours by R&B artist Rihanna.
In 2014, he joined the supergroup Kings of Chaos, which also includes Matt Sorum, Gilby Clarke and Duff McKagan of Guns n’ Roses, Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, Billy Gibbons of ZZ TOP and Robin Zander of Cheap Trick.
Extreme made something of a comeback in 2023 with the release of SIX, an album that charted on five different Billboard charts, including Top Hard Rock Albums (No. 2) and Top Current Album Sales (No. 10). The video for the album’s lead single, Rise, has nearly 5 million views on YouTube.
“We can’t wait to dive into this catalog and remind fans, new and old, of its greatness.”
Adam Lowenberg, Primary Wave
The deal with Bettencourt is just one of numerous deals that Primary Wave has made so far this year. Others include a publishing partnership with 90s alt-rock band The Spin Doctors; a music rights deal with Neil Finn of Crowded House; a stake in the catalog of Neil Sedaka; and a deal for the catalog and other rights of the Village People of YMCA fame.
Also this year, Primary Wave expanded into Brazilian music with a stake in Nas Nuvens Catalog, a music rights company that itself was modeled on Primary Wave.Music Business Worldwide
