Credit: Patrice Audet
Just 18 months after completing Jim Peterik’s deal with Primary Wave, Survivor’s legendary hit “Eye of the Tiger” has surpassed one billion streams on Spotify.
The song is a global phenomenon and has inspired millions of people since its release in 1982. ‘Eye of the Tiger’ was commissioned by Sylvester Stallone himself and served as the theme song for his film ‘Rocky III’ which helped to make it famous. “Eye of the Tiger” stayed at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for six weeks and became Survivor’s defining anthem.
The song was nominated for two Grammy Awards, winning one in 1982 for “Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group”. The song was also nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song that same year.
Primary Wave acquired a majority stake in songwriter and producer Jim Peterik’s publishing catalog back in December 2021. The deal is said to be worth $20 million and includes “other rights” to works throughout Peterik’s decades-long career.
He was a founding member of Survivor and wrote or co-wrote all tracks on the band’s first seven albums. He also co-wrote tracks for .38 Special (“Caught Up In You” and “Hold On Loosely”), Sammy Hagar (“Heavy Metal”) and The Beach Boys (“That’s WHy God Made the Radio”).
“We met Jim nearly four years ago where after a lovely lunch he invited us back to his home studio,” Primary Wave’s Chief Brand Officer Jeff Straughn said of the deal at the time. “It was love at first sight and we knew it was only a matter of time before Jim joined the Primary Wave family. We are thrilled to be able to work with such a legend.”
“I’m thrilled to be with a company that is as passionate about music as I am,” said Jim Peterik of the deal. “Primary Wave’s roster speaks for itself. It seems many of my musical heroes feel the same way!”