Primary Wave Music has acquired a 50% stake in the master recordings of Grammy-nominated musician, Chris Isaak.
Described as a “multi-million-dollar” acquisition, the deal encompasses Isaak’s biggest hits across his decades long career including, Blue Hotel,San Francisco Days, Baby Did a Bad, Bad Thing, Somebody’s Crying, as well as his most well-known recording Wicked Game.
Additional terms of the deal include a strategic alliance with the singer that will allow him to sign new artists to a joint venture, as well as a recording contract with Sun Records which was acquired in January by Primary Wave in a $30m deal.
Moving forward, Isaak will release new material on the legendary label.
In 2011, Isaak released his eleventh studio album titled Beyond the Sun. The album features a collection of songs originally recorded by Sun Records artists including Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis.
Upon its release, the album shot to the Top 10 on Billboard’s Rock album charts.
Recorded in the legendary Sun Studios, Beyond the Sun was Chris’s tribute to the glory days of the legendary Memphis label so it was only fitting he become a Sun Records recording artist.
Upon release, Wicked Game became a Top 10 hit in the US and has since been featured in a number of films, television shows, and advertisements.
The Herb Ritts’ directed video, featuring Helena Christensen, fueled the song’s popularity and won multiple MTV Video Music Award including Best Male Video.
It was also included on VHI’s 100 Great Videos and Rolling Stone’s 100 Top Music Videos.
In 2019, the single was covered on the 17th season premiere of NBC’s The Voice and subsequently reached the top slot on Billboard’s Rock Digital Song Sales chart.
“Chris is a true iconic talent, and I was drawn to his almost encyclopedic knowledge of the Sun catalog and its rich history. We look forward to working with Chris and his amazing manager Sheryl Louis.”
“Our team couldn’t be happier to welcome Chris to the Primary Wave and Sun Records family,” says Larry Mestel, CEO & Founder of Primary Wave Music.
“Chris is a true iconic talent, and I was drawn to his almost encyclopedic knowledge of the Sun catalog and its rich history. We look forward to working with Chris and his amazing manager Sheryl Louis.”
“To now be officially part of the label and have the Sun logo on my music is humbling and gratifying in ways I cannot quite convey.”
Chris Isaak
Chris Isaak said: “Life has a unique way of coming full circle. I spent hours of my youth looking at secondhand singles at thrift shops, and while those old records might have been several generations before me, the impression they’ve made on me has lasted a lifetime.
“The most captivating of all the singles were always the ones with that coveted Sun logo. The label was, and still is, home to the voices of my heroes and icons.
“To now be officially part of the label and have the Sun logo on my music is humbling and gratifying in ways I cannot quite convey.
“Further to that, I feel it’s important that we look to the future and go about creating the next generation of legends. I’m thrilled to take on that task with Sun to both discover and curate new music.”
Last month, Primary Wave Music announced that it had finalized what it calls a “strategic relationship” with funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management.
Oaktree Capital has committed to invest up to $375 million into Primary Wave Music in exchange for a minority interest in the music company.
Primary Wave has raised over $800m in the past four years via two IP funds: a $300m fund in 2016, backed by Black Rock, and a further $500m-plus fund launched last year.
