Primary Wave Acquires James Brown Estate for a Reported $90 Million

Photo Credit @jamesbrown Instagram

Fifteen years after his death on Christmas Day of heart failure, and just five months after the tumultuous battle between his many heirs was settled, publishing and management company Primary Wave has acquired James Brown’s music assets.

While Primary Wave did not disclose the financials of the purchase, the New York Times reports the deal is estimated at $90 million.

For its hefty investment Primary Wave has acquired a stake in the publishing, master recording income stream, and name and likeness rights of the "Godfather of Soul” — a musical legacy that spans over 50 years, includes 17 No. 1 singles on the Billboard R&B charts and saw Brown be inducted into the inaugural class of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

“I FEEL GOOD! Wow, I am awed that Primary Wave has been chosen by the estate of James Brown to partner with the Godfather of Soul,” Larry Mestel, CEO & Founder of Primary Wave Music, said in a statement announcing the deal. “We are thrilled to help continue the expansion of his influence and further his legacy through both his music and The James Brown 2000 Trust.”

Primary Wave will continue a partnership with the estate, which will include several projects related to The James Brown 2000 Trust, which was established in 2000 by Brown for charitable and educational purposes. The company will also give the estate access to its entire marketing team, digital team, publicity department, branding team, and publishing infrastructure.

“The James Brown Estate and related Trust are very proud and excited to work with Larry Mestel and Primary Wave,” Russell Bauknight, the fiduciary for the James Brown Estate and Trust, added. “We believe that our choice of professionals to take the James Brown Legacy to the next level is going to prove to be one of the most successful events in Mr. Brown’s long history in show business.”

Travis Scott Finally Opens up About Astroworld Festival Tragedy

Over a month after a deadly crowd surge at his hometown Astroworld music festival in Houston on Nov. 5 left 10 people dead and hundreds injured, rapper Travis Scott set down with radio and television personality Charlamagne Tha God Thursday to talk about the mass casualty incident.

In his first interview since the tragic events unfolded the 30-year-old, born Jacques Bermon Webster II, said he had no idea of the carnage that ensued while he was on stage.

“I didn’t know the exact details until minutes before the press conference [after my set],” he said. “And even at that moment, you’re like, ‘Wait, what?’

Scott went on to say that he would have stopped the show if he had heard signs of distress in the crowd.

“It’s so crazy because I’m that artist too — anytime you can hear something like that, you want to stop the show,” he said. “You want to make sure fans get the proper attention they need. Anytime I could see anything like that, I did. I stopped it a couple of times to just make sure everybody was OK. And I really just go off the fans’ energy as a collective — call and response. I just didn’t hear that.”

The "Sicko Mode" artist, who is currently facing more than 140 lawsuits and a mass litigation suit by 1,500 show attendees against himself, Live Nation, Apple Music, and Drake amongst others —added that the band, lights, pyrotechnics and other elements of the performance obscured his vantage point from the stage.

“You can only help what you can see and whatever you’re told, whenever they tell you to stop, you stop,” he said," noting how difficult it would be to perceive the difference between fans in danger versus enjoying the show.

Asked by Charlamagne if he did all he could to make the event safe Scott, choking back his emotions, said, “Everything I physically [could], sure, yes. And, if knowing what was going on … you just wish you could have done something better. But, standing there, 1,000 percent.”

Watch the entire interview below:

Kanye West and Drake Team With Amazon to Stream Free Larry Hoover Benefit Concert

Photo Credit @Ye Instagram

Christmas is coming early for hip-hop fans, at least those with an Amazon Prime account.

The world’s largest online retailer announced on Tuesday, the Free Larry Hoover Benefit Concert, headlined by Kanye West and featuring a guest appearance from Drake will be streamed globally on its platform.

The news was applauded by fans of both rap icons, as ticket prices for the Dec. 9 concert, which will take place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, have soared since its announcement — with some going as high as $7,500, not including taxes and fees, on Ticketmaster.

Ye and Drake are joining forces and we’ve got your exclusive access. The monumental #FreeLarryHoover show will be free to stream globally on Prime Video, on the @AmazonMusic app, and on the Amazon Music Twitch channel. pic.twitter.com/SPItOoRRG8

— Prime Video (@PrimeVideo) December 8, 2021

While the prices might seem outrageous, they were not unexpected. In addition to this being the first time West, who recently changed his name to Ye, is headlining a show in five years, it also will be the first time the two rappers have worked together in years.

In fact, the long-running beef between Drake and West, which the latter first called for an end to in an interview with N.O.R.E. on Drink Champs early in November, following the Astroworld disaster, will be “put to rest” at the concert according to West.

The concert will stream live Thursday (Dec. 8) at 11 p.m. EST/8 p.m. PST on Amazon Prime Video, Twitch and the Amazon Music app in more than 240 countries and territories across the world. In addition to being available through Amazon’s services, the concert will be live-streamed in IMAX theaters across the U.S. for a one-night-only event. Tickets are now available for purchase on IMAX’s official website. The concert will also be available to view on-demand through Prime Video following the live event.

“We’re extremely proud to be working with Kanye and Drake on this historic concert in support of a cause they are both so passionate about and to collaborate across Amazon for this epic entertainment event,” Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke said of the collaboration in a statement.

“Kanye and Drake have spent their careers pushing boundaries and defining culture, and we’re excited to give fans around the world a front-row seat to this concert,” added Tim Hinshaw, head of hip-hop and R&B for Amazon Music. “We have made Amazon Music and Prime Video destinations where artists can make their most ambitious ideas a reality — his concert is just the latest example.”

The concert is intended to raise awareness of Larry Hoover’s incarceration and fight for freedom after decades behind bars. The co-founder of the Gangster Disciples, Hoover was found guilty of murder, extortion and money laundering among other charges in 1997 and is currently serving six life sentences. Additionally, it will benefit advocacy groups including Hustle 2.0, Ex-Cons For Community And Social Change and Uptown People’s Law Center.

West has been working to free Hoover, whose sentencing has sparked controversy and calls for sentence reform, for several years. In 2018 he asked Donald Trump, whom he avidly supported during his presidency, to grant him clemency, but the request was not granted.