WHEELS & DEALS:
LICK MY LOVE PUMP

For some reason, we get Spinal Tap flashbacks whenever the topic of copyright/music publishing comes up. And don’t forget, D-minor is “the saddest of all keys.” Whatever… What seems to be on the tips of lots of industry tongues right now, outside of what’s going on at Capitol Music Group, is the hunger to acquire catalog not just on the part of the big publishing players but also small to mid-size boutique firms. And the recent announcement of the acquisition of Daryl Hall & John Oates catalog by Larry Mestel’s Primary Wave Music Publishing is just part of the pub frenzy. Hey, we rock Hall & Oates’ “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)” all the time—that song’s the jam! The N.Y. Post reports that Primary Wave’s stake in the catalog will be at least 50%, with a price tag of $25-50 million. Primary Wave acquired 25% of Kurt Cobain’s catalog from Courtney Love for $50 million last year. Additionally, Motley Crue’s catalog is reportedly up for sale, and discussions among big and small pub companies are said to be heating up. Among the other boutique pub houses going for catalog are Stage Three, Spirit, Bicycle and Dimensional. One deal that’s reportedly in play is the catalog share for former Third Eye Blind member/writer Kevin Cadogan, who co-wrote a lot of the band’s big hits with Stephen Jenkins. Don’t forget songs like “How’s It Going to Be” and “Losing a Whole Year,” among other 3EB hits. Publishing insiders share that certain catalogs can be had at a bargain right now. Stay tuned… Major label buzz building for Immortal band A Change of Pace. We hear that several majors are interested in upstreaming the act. Immortal has a distribution arrangement with RED, but they don’t have an upstream deal with them. And much credit to Immortal A&R guy Jason Markey for signing and developing the band. Markey’s other development project, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, is making noise as they start the Take Action Tour in February with Virgin act Red Jumpsuit Apparatus… Big props to manager Stephen Bush, whose client, Atlantic Records act Pretty Ricky, debuted #1 on our album chart this week... A couple shows to check out: Pulse Recording act American Eyes will be playing the Key Club in L.A. on Feb. 16 for their upcoming EP release. And label folks are expected to be at Tyler Read’s Knitting Factory show in N.Y. this coming Monday, Feb. 5… Finally, our old bud, Joe Belliotti is currently Managing Director at Creative License, a creative supervision company for advertising agencies and brands. He placed “Galvanize” by the Chemical Brothers featuring Q-Tip in the Bud Select commercials and Sheryl Crow’s “Every Day Is a Winding Road” for Subaru. He’s looking for new songs for potential replacements for the above spots this year as well as for other projects. Reach out to him at joe@creativelicense.com... BUZZIN’: Arm Chair Cynics and Thomas Valentino… Hit me up: [email protected]