Joey Tempest performs live. Photo credit: Nicolas Valdes
Primary Wave has signed a partnership deal with European frontman Joey Tempest and as part of the collaboration, the New York City-based company now owns a stake in the Stockholm native’s publishing catalogue.
Primary Wave emailed DMN today about its arrangement with 59-year-old Joey Tempest, about a month after acquiring music IP from Skillet. Although the financial terms of the new detailed deal were not publicly disclosed, Primary Wave announced that the transaction extends to “a portion of the singer’s five-album music publishing catalogue.”
These albums are believed to be the first five projects in Europe: a debut album of the same name from 1983 and 1984 wings of tomorrow1986s the final Countdown (including the track of the same name, on which Tempest is the sole songwriter), 1988 Heavenlyand 1991 Prisoners in Paradise. (13 years passed before Europe, which was aware of its “best tour in many, many years” reunited and then followed the latter release with Start in the dark.)
In addition to The Final Countdown, which has at least 600 million Spotify streams and more than a billion YouTube views, the final Countdown (and with it the investment in Primary Wave) includes “Rock the Night” (75 million Spotify streams), “Carrie” (203 million) and “Cherokee” (18 million). Tempest wrote each of the tracks, although Mic Michaeli also contributed to “Carrie” and is credited as the songwriter.
Tempest addressed his Primary Wave union in a statement, expressing his belief that the above releases “are in good hands.”
“It feels great to add another partner to our team who will work and help spread the music,” said Tempest, who has released three solo albums. “As a songwriter, it’s a privilege to have part of my catalog in the same place as one of my heroes, Bob Marley. I feel like my songs are in good hands and will benefit from the experience and expertise of my new friends in New York.”
In addition to this most recent partnership, Primary Wave has created a number of other notable tracks this year – including investing in the work of Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer and founding member Bob Burns, I Will Remember You singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan and Since You Been Gone creator Russ Ballard. In addition, the company reportedly inked a $100 million partnership and investment deal with India’s Times Music in April.
Meanwhile, companies like Peermusic, BMG, CTM Outlander, Beyond Music, Anthem Entertainment, Reservoir Media, and AMR Songs have completed IP investments from their own in the first half of 2023.