Iconic purchase includes Crosby’s recorded music and publishing rights to The Byrds; Crosby, Stills & Nash; and more
Legendary GRAMMY Award-winning artist, David Crosby has partnered with Irving Azoff’s new venture, Iconic Artists Group (Iconic) to monetize his life work and preserve and expand his legacy in a digital era. Crosby is the most recent signing from Iconic, which has purchased his catalogue, which includes 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. The start of the Iconic relationship coincides with the 50th anniversary of Crosby’s debut solo album, If I Could Only Remember My Name, which was released in February 1971, and Déjà Vu, the second studio album by Crosby, Stills & Nash, and their first as a quartet with Neil Young, which was released in March 1970.
The deal with Crosby comes on the heels of last week’s announcement of the launch of Iconic and its partnership with the legendary Beach Boys to purchase a controlling stake in their 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.
“Given our current inability to work live, this deal is a blessing for me and my family and I do believe these are the best people to do it with,” Crosby shares of the deal.
“I’ve known David as a friend and have admired him as a great artist since our earliest days at Geffen Roberts Management shortly after I moved to Los Angeles,” comments Azoff, chairman and CEO of The Azoff Company. “This is an incredible time to be involved with David and his tremendous catalogue of music. He’s truly one of music’s most prolific songwriters and artists and I’m honored he has made Iconic the steward of his timeless musical legacy.”
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.
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.
