Primary Wave Music has struck a deal to acquire Neil Finn's catalog of music publications and the writer's share of public attribution for his work with legendary Kiwi folk-rock darlings Crowded House.
Songs included in the deal are the classics “Better Be Home Soon,” “Weather With You” and “Don't dream it's over,” one Advertising sign map leader.
Through the partnership, announced this week, Primary Wave Music will also represent Finn's solo material.
“I look forward to seeing Primary Wave's plan for the continued care of my songs. I'm sure they see my body of work as music that matters,” Finn says in a statement. “This deal has been a long time in the making and it feels right.”
The New Zealand-born artist is widely regarded as one of the greatest contemporary songwriters in the game and is a member of the ARIA Hall of Fame.
“We are thrilled to welcome Neil Finn to Primary Wave,” adds Primary Wave's David Weitzman. “He's not only a top songwriter, he's the songwriters' favorite songwriter. We look forward to working closely with Neil and his great team at Shelter Management in the next stages of his storied career.”
The alliance is announced ahead of Crowded House's eighth studio album Gravity Stairsis expected to be released on May 31st via a new record deal with BMG.
Finn co-founded Split Enz, a major alternative rock outfit that had hit after hit in Australia and New Zealand, before disbanding in 1984.
From his embers, Finn formed the Crowded House. A breakthrough in the US came in April 1987 when “Don't Dream It's Over”, recorded by the classic lineup of Finn (singer, songwriter, guitar), Nick Seymour (bass) and the late drummer Paul Hester, reached the No. 2 back. .
The song made a strong comeback last year. Thanks to a sync with an episode of the rebooted classic detective movie Magnum PI, “Don't Dream It's Over” reached No. 1 on Billboard's Top TV Songs chart.
Crowded House were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2016, in recognition of an illustrious career which has seen them sell more than 10 million albums, collect 13 ARIA Awards and five ARIA No.1 albums.
The collection of hits of 2010 Recurring dream it also topped the Official UK Albums Chart and is one of four Crowded House albums to enter the top 10 in that region.
Gravity Stairs is its sequel Dreamers Awaitwhich reached No.2 in Australia, No.6 in the Official UK Chart and won Best Adult Contemporary album at the 2021 ARIA Awards.
Founded in 2006, Primary Wave Music is one of the world's leading independent publishers, representing music by Bob Marley, Prince, Stevie Nicks, James Brown, The Doors, Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, Smokey Robinson, Whitney Houston and many more others.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/business/publishing/neil-finn-publishing-deal-primary-wave-music-1235665894/