TERMS OF THE DEAL WILL SEE THE PUBLISHER PARTNER WITH BELL ON HIS MUSIC PUBLISHING CATALOG, AS WELL AS HIS RECORDINGS
SONGS INCLUDE “LADIES NIGHT,” “CELEBRATION,” “GET DOWN ON IT,” “JUNGLE BOOGIE”, “HOLLYWOOD SWINGING” AND OTHERS
NEW YORK, NY (March 10, 2026) – Primary Wave Music, the leading independent publisher of iconic and legendary music in the world, has announced today its partnership with legendary musician, singer, songwriter, and founding member of Kool & The Gang, Robert “Kool” Bell. Terms of the deal will see the dynamic publisher partner with Kool on his legendary catalog of music and recordings. Primary Wave will also work closely with the Grammy winner on new name, image, and likeness opportunities. Terms of the deal will also give Kool access to Primary Wave’s marketing team and publishing infrastructure, which includes digital strategy, licensing, synch opportunities, and film & TV production.
Bell was one of the songwriters for the legendary group’s biggest hits. His songs defined the 70s and 80s and still resonate today. As the leader and co-founder of Kool & The Gang, Bell has been awarded two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, and in 2024, he was selected for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The band has sold over 70 million albums worldwide, have been recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2018, was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and in 2008 was honored by the Living Legends Foundation.
This exciting partnership encompasses some of Bell’s and Kool & The Gang’s biggest hits which include twenty-five Top 10 R&B hits and nine Top 10 pop hits. Classics such as “Hollywood Swinging” which was their first #1 on the R&B Charts, “Jungle Boogie” which was ranked as the #12 song for 1974 by Billboard, “Cherish” which was the biggest Adult Contemporary chart hit of the 80s, and the #1 hit “Ladies Night” which was a radio staple the year it was released, are all included. The song was also their first major hit in the United Kingdom. The exciting new partnership also includes one of the band’s most well-known songs, “Celebration.” Released in 1980, the song was the band’s chart-topping single which reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, spent six weeks atop the R&B chart, and has since been selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry. Kool & The Gang’s songs have been featured in a number of films over the years, and their music has been sampled by everyone from Mase to De La Soul to A Tribe Called Quest to Nas.
“I’m extremely excited about my new partnership with Primary Wave, not only because they understand my vision, but because they are very accessible, just a phone call away,” said Robert “Kool” Bell. He continues, “Together we are going to ride a Kool Wave as we get things fixed and stay fit in 2026!”
Mohamed Moretta, Managing Partner – Kool Moretta Media, added “We’ve developed multiple brands on our own, such as The Just Kool Party, Le Kool Champagne, and Kool King Coconut Water. Our partnership with Primary Wave will take these projects, as well as our upcoming Be Kool Musical, to another level.”
Primary Wave’s David Weitzman said “Kool’s role as the last surviving founding member of Kool & the Gang makes this partnership especially meaningful. As a true pioneer of funk and popular music, Kool has carried the group’s vision, spirit, and legacy forward for decades. At Primary Wave, we are honored to partner with him to preserve, protect, and amplify this iconic catalog for generations to come.
Kool & the Gang has influenced the music of several generations, and the band has become true recording industry legends. From Nairobi to Newark, Kool & the Gang has performed continuously longer than any R&B group in history, and their bulletproof funk and jazzy arrangements have also made them the most sampled recording artist of all time. A reviewer recently called their performance “a 24-karat show” and every year, even after a half-century on the road, yields a non-stop schedule of shows across the globe. The heavily-in-demand band has continued to tour the world. Today, the group enjoys global fame and recognition and a following that spans generations.