NEW SIGNINGS FOR THE COMPANY INCLUDE SUB POP RECORDS’ LVL UP AND ISLAND RECORDS’ 888
New York, NY (April 28, 2017) – Primary Wave Music Publishing, one of the leading U.S. independent music publishing companies, announced today a deal with Rough Trade Publishing. In a deal valued in excess of $5 million, Primary Wave will provide financing to the New York-based publishing company, who also have offices in Nashville, Los Angeles, and London. These funds will allow Rough Trade Publishing to continue to provide deals to artists around the world, including their most recent signings, and the first since the deal with Primary Wave was finalized, LVL UP and 888.
In addition to funding co-publishing deals, Primary Wave acquired an equity interest in Rough Trade Publishing. The deal also allows access for Rough Trade Publishing to compete for signing new artists on a global scale and will provide access to Primary Wave’s marketing and creative team and Rough Trade Publishing’s vast synchronization relationships.
“We had been looking to partner with another company that is as motivated as we are to sign bands and do exciting deals,” says Gandhar Savur, Senior Vice President Legal Affairs at Rough Trade Publishing. He goes on, “We’ve finally met our match with Primary Wave. We couldn’t be more excited for what the future holds.”
“Rough Trade is a legendary brand in the music business,” says Justin Shukat, President of Primary Wave Music Publishing. He goes on, “Their vision and hard working team made Rough Trade Publishing an ideal company for us to do business with.”
Rough Trade Publishing is the administrator of vital, contemporary bands such as War On Drugs, Superchunk, Grizzly Bear, the Magnetic Fields, Against Me!, and Future Islands. It started as a company called House of Hassle Publishing, founded in 2007 by Lyle Hysen, Ken Weinstein and Gandhar Savur. House of Hassle was born from a union between Bank Robber Music, a boutique tv/film licensing firm representing some of the best labels in independent rock, and Big Hassle Media, a widely respected music publicity company. The founding principal of House of Hassle was to be more service oriented than the traditional music publishers, and to create a company that could serve as a safe haven and like-minded community for gifted songwriters. Over the next 10 years, House of Hassle did exactly that, signing over 300 of the best independent rock bands. In 2016, House of Hassle acquired a substantial interest in the UK-based Rough Trade Publishing and now operates under that name with a combined roster and staff, including the legendary A&R executive Geoff Travis and his partner, Jeannette Lee who simultaneously run Rough Trade Records and are responsible for signing such artists as The Strokes, The Smiths, and The Libertines. Rough Trade Publishing operates as the publishing arm of Bank Robber Industries, a music industry umbrella group comprised of numerous companies including Bank Robber Music, Bank Robber Europe, Big Hassle Media, and Music House of Hassle, with headquarters located in the heart of the financial district in New York City, and satellite offices in Nashville, Los Angeles and London.
ABOUT PRIMARY WAVE:
Primary Wave Music Publishing was founded in 2006 and specializes in the acquisition and unique marketing of iconic and legendary artists and songs. Over the years the company has acquired the copyrights of over 15,000 songs from the catalogs of legendary artists such as Smokey Robinson, Kurt Cobain, Steven Tyler, John Lennon, Def Leppard, Hall & Oates, Chicago, Maurice White, Graham Parker, Daniel Johnston, Steven Curtis Chapman, Lamont Dozier, Steve Cropper and many others.As a company, we strive for excellence in the pursuit of catalogs that not only reflect great songwriting, but moments of culture. Primary Wave has strategically grown over the last 10 years into a full service music and entertainment powerhouse that includes Brand Synergy Group, Brightshop Digital Marketing, publicity, Film/TV development, and a talent & literary management company. Under the Primary Wave umbrella there are two core businesses, Primary Wave Music Publishing and its’ sister company, Primary Wave Entertainment. Primary Wave Entertainment is a powerhouse talent management company that provides full access and opportunities for their clients, working closely with them to guide their careers and achieve their goals across the entertainment landscape. Collectively, the new talent management roster includes: CeeLo Green, Melissa Etheridge, Fantasia, Cypress Hill, Eric Benét, Brandy, Isac Elliot, Plain White T’s, producer/DJ Audien, Erick Morillo, plus music writers/producers Jon Levine, DANJA, Mag and Mitch Allan; and the Film/TV roster includes, Golden Globe winner Gina Rodriguez, Mayim Bialik, David Arquette, Elle McPherson, Peter Facinelli, Gabrielle Union, AJ Cook, William Fichtner, Nia Long, Donald Faison, Paula Patton, Mike Epps, as well as Oscar winning screenwriters/directors Jim Rash (Descendants), Mike Radford (Il Postino) and Bobby Moresco (Crash), Oni Press, among others. The company’s Film/TV production arm was responsible for creating, developing and/or producing a number of critically acclaimed TV shows and films including CeeLo Green’s “The Good Life,” “The Coldest City” featuring Charlize Theron, and the recently announced Primary Wave Productions’ “Loudermilk” and “Swallows,” and more.
With just three employees in 2006, Primary Wave has grown to a company of 70+ employees today, with offices in New York and Los Angeles. With a team of the industry’s finest executives, Primary Wave is consistently growing and looking towards the future, focusing on integrating all aspects of creative acts.