Ronstadt is latest artist to sell catalog
Linda Ronstadt has sold her recorded music assets to Irving Azoff’s Iconic Artists Group. Iconic will team with Ronstadt, her longtime manager John Boyland and personal assistant Janet Stark to preserve her legacy in the digital era.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but only the undisclosed masters that Ronstadt owns and the royalties she doesn’t own are included in the deal. Ronstadt’s name and likeness are excluded, although Iconic can use them to promote the catalog. Publishing was not part of the deal.
“I’m very pleased about this partnership,” Ronstadt says in an announcement. “It’s extremely gratifying to be in the company of Irving Azoff, his team, and his family of great artists, many of whom have been my friends and colleagues for years. It feels like home.”
“In 1972 when I arrived in Los Angeles to pursue my dreams in the music business, as fate would have it, I soon thereafter became best friends and manager to Glenn Frey and Don Henley,” Azoff adds. “Without Linda Ronstadt and John Boylan, there would have never been an Eagles. We were friends and family and grew up together, and what a ride it has been. The countless tours together with the Eagles and Linda and their collaborations are the backbone of the history of Southern California music. For Linda and John to entrust us with the honor of furthering her work is one of the most satisfying moments of my career. Linda’s talent is unparalleled, but her courage and commitment to make important music of many genres is her legacy. We will preserve that legacy for her at all costs.Thank you, Linda and John. We won’t let you down.”
The 74 year old Ronstadt is the latest legacy act to sell their catalog. Last month, Iconic purchased a controlling stake The Beach Boys catalog, including sound recordings, the brand, select musical compositions, and memorabilia. As part of that deal, the Beach Boys and their heirs retain an interest in their assets to participate in the upside Iconic expects to create by actively marketing and promoting their music. Earlier this month, David Crosby sold his publishing and recorded music rights — including his solo work, as well as his work with The Byrds; Crosby & Nash; Crosby, Stills & Nash; and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young — to Iconic for an undisclosed amount.
The catalog sales began late last year with Bob Dylan striking a $300+ million payout from Universal Music for his catalog. Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsay Buckingham, Stevie Nicks and others are among those who’ve sold all or partial rights to their catalogs in recent months.
Iconic Artists Group is dedicated to acquiring, and actively managing a portfolio of select artists’ assets and preserving the important legacy of these music icons. Iconic fills a void in the music business for legendary artists: a trusted guardian for an artist’s intellectual property with the expertise to maximize the value of assets and maintain their brand. Iconic provides an alternative for artists who value legacy preservation; Iconic is dedicated to exposing the artistry and music of their artists to new generations. Iconic works in direct partnership with artists, their managers, record labels and publishers, and legal heirs to provide a solution that unites the music with the brand to efficiently drive value in both.
