Primary Wave Acquires 50% Stake in Notorious B.I.G.’s $200M Estate

My friends, we’ve just got some major news in the world of music royalties. The estate of the legendary Notorious B.I.G., also known as Biggie Smalls, will soon be partially managed by Primary Wave. Now, why is this important? Let’s backtrack.

For those who need a reminder, Notorious B.I.G. was one of the first artists to sign with Bad Boy Records, owned by none other than Sean “Diddy” Combs. Bad Boy Records initially held a 50% stake in Biggie’s songwriting catalog. But as it often is in the music industry, who manages the estate is key to the legacy of an artist’s work.

Biggie’s estate was primarily managed by a pillar of strength and determination, his mother, Voletta Wallace. She played a pivotal role in growing the stake from Bad Boy Records in her son’s catalog. By arguing that the estate was doing the significant work in securing deals to license and monetize Biggie’s music, she successfully increased the estate’s stake to a staggering 85%. And if that wasn’t impressive enough, she acquired the remaining 15% stake in 2020.

Now, the recent eight-figure deal made with music publisher Primary Wave involves half of Biggie’s publishing and master rights, including his rights to name, image, voice, and other identifiable characteristics. So, the big question is – what’s next for the legacy of Notorious B.I.G.? With Voletta Wallace and Primary Wave in charge, I’d say we can expect exciting things on the horizon. This deal not only symbolizes the value and power of music royalty rights but also underlines the influence of those who work behind the scenes to keep an artist’s legacy alive. So, let’s wait and watch how this power play influences the music industry and aspiring artists. Stay tuned!