Primary Wave Music is pleased to announce the addition of Clive Black. Based in the U.K., Black is joining Primary Wave to focus on catalog acquisitions of iconic and legendary song writers for Primary Wave IP Fund 3 and its vast war chest. When asking about joining the publishing giant, Clive said “Larry and the Primary Wave team is something that I am extremely excited about and hope I will be able to add value to the wonderful organization Larry has built up since we worked together some twelve years ago.” Larry Mestel, Founder & CEO of Primary Wave Music, added, “Clive is a force in the music industry in the UK. It’s great to have him as part of our team, providing a platform where his vast experience can flourish.”
Clive Black’s career in the music business started at the age of 16, when he started work as an office junior at Island Records. Black soon moved into the world of A&R where his ability to recognize talent, sign and develop artists became the start of a promising career. He joined EMI Records as an A&R Manager but within a few years he was promoted to Director of A&R at the label. He continued this role at Warner Music until 1995. During both periods, Clive signed acts as diverse as Afrika Bambaataa, Mark Almond, Eternal, Mark Morrison, and Babylon Zoo. Black then created Postiva dance label within EMI which proved to snowball into one of the most successful dance labels in the UK and Europe. He returned to EMI as Managing Director in 1995 where he worked closely with several superstar acts including Diana Ross. Sir Cliff Richard and Kate Bush. By 1997 Clive had personally signed and released seven number one singles in the UK by six different artists. Black left EMI and set up two companies, Blacklist Entertainment and Blacknight, with Sir Cliff Richard. As Chairman of Blacklist, Clive struck up a label deal with edel Records in the UK, signing several artists across the UK and Europe. He also created another dance label within edel called Free2Air Recordings. In June 2004, Black completed a management buy-out of both edel UK and Free2Air Recordings, giving him ownership of both companies. In 2008, Black was appointed Manager of the iconic record producer Trevor Horn and decided to base Blacklist within the legendary Sarm Studios, owned by Horn and HQ to the SPZ group of companies. Black secured projects for Horn including Robbie Williams and it was not long before Horn appointed Black at the helm of his 13 companies as President of SPZ. In 2011 Black left SPZ to re-start Blacklist Entertainment. Clive continues to do all his business under the Blacklist Entertainment umbrella, including several consultancy deals as either a business advisor or as an A&R executive. After a tough period, Blacklist live events run by Jayne Meegan is very active again, with the end of Covid in sight. Clive also manages his father, legendary lyricist Don Black and recently concluded a new deal with Sony Music for Don. Most recently, Clive has been focused on producing “Rehab The Musical”, written by his brother Grant Black and Poet Murray Laughlin Young. It opens in London September 2022.