Music Industry Moves: T.I. Strikes Publishing Deal With Reservoir, Primary Wave Partners With Foreigner’s Mick Jones

The music publishing and management sectors saw significant activity this week with major catalog acquisitions and high-level executive appointments. Reservoir secured a comprehensive publishing agreement with veteran rapper T.I., while Primary Wave entered a strategic partnership with Foreigner founder Mick Jones covering his catalog and the band's brand rights. These moves, alongside key leadership shifts at Sony Music Publishing and Triple Tigers Records, underscore the ongoing consolidation and strategic scaling within the global music rights market.

Reservoir has finalized a publishing deal with Atlanta rapper T.I., encompassing his entire back catalog and future projects. The agreement includes his latest album, "Kill the King," which recently debuted in the Top 10 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop and Top Rap Albums charts. T.I., a three-time Grammy winner with approximately 14 million albums sold globally, brings a high-profile portfolio to Reservoir that includes collaborations with industry icons like Jay-Z, Rihanna, and Justin Timberlake. The deal was overseen by Reservoir leadership, including CEO Golnar Khosrowshahi and President Rell Lafargue.

Primary Wave Music has announced a multifaceted partnership with Mick Jones, the primary songwriter and founding member of Foreigner. The deal involves Primary Wave acquiring an undisclosed interest in Jones’ publishing and recording catalogs, as well as rights to the name, image, likeness, and touring of Foreigner. This partnership arrives as the band prepares for its 50th anniversary, which will be marked by a live album and a movie featuring original members Lou Gramm and Al Greenwood performing on Ellis Island. Primary Wave CEO Larry Mestel will work with Jones’ management team to market the band’s extensive hit list, including "Cold as Ice," "Waiting for a Girl Like You," and "I Want To Know What Love Is."

The executive landscape shifted with several high-level appointments, including Sony Music Publishing promoting Luis Pinilla to Senior VP and Global Head of Strategy, reporting to CEO Jon Platt. In Nashville, Warner Chappell Nashville and Core Entertainment signed a global publishing deal with hit songwriter Dallas Wilson, known for his work with Lainey Wilson and Dylan Scott. Additionally, Triple Tigers Records named Raffaella Braun as co-president, and Morris Higham Management appointed Clark Mims Tedesco as VP of Marketing to lead strategy for clients like Kenny Chesney. These shifts, along with Luminate naming Brian Czarny as its new chief marketing officer, reflect a broader industry focus on strengthening marketing infrastructure and strategic global growth.