Primary Wave will acquire the music releases and select master recordings of Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, the label announced on Thursday (June 27). The deal — which excludes the band's aptly titled sixth album, 2023 Six — includes all of Bettencourt's releases, including management rights; his share of Extreme's master recordings in which the band has ownership. and his rights from recordings not owned by the band. The deal also covers his solo recordings.
The acquisition is part of a new partnership with Bettencourt that will give the musician-songwriter-producer access to Primary Wave's marketing team and publishing infrastructure.
In addition to his work with Extreme and his solo recordings, Bettencourt has collaborated with artists such as Rihanna, Steve Perry, Janet Jackson and Steven Tyler. Songs covered on the deal include “Hole Hearted,” “Get the Funk Out,” “Decadence Dance,” “Rest in Peace” and Extreme's best-known hit, “More Than Words,” which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on June 8, 1991.
“I am very excited to have Nuno join the Primary Wave family,” Primary Wave Chief Marketing Officer Adam Lowenberg he said in a statement. “He is one of the greatest guitarists and songwriters in the history of rock music and one of my favorite musicians of all time. We look forward to diving into this catalog and reminding fans, new and old, of its greatness.”
According to Luminate, the Extreme catalog has generated 3.6 million album consumption units in the United States since 1991, while Bettencourt's solo offerings have accumulated 30,000 album consumption units.
“After meeting the team at Primary Wave and seeing their passion, work ethic and creative ideas in action, I am delighted to now have a greater partnership with them,” Betancourt said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing to build my catalog of songs in new areas of activity.”
