Primary Wave Music, in conjunction with Brazil-headquartered Nas Nuvens Music Group, has entered into a partnership with iconic Brazilian composer, singer, and guitarist, Gilberto Gil.<\/p>\n
The deal sees Primary Wave and Nas Nuvens Music Group<\/strong> acquire Gilberto Gil’s catalog.<\/p>\n The companies claim in a press release<\/a> that the partnership “is one of the most significant to emerge from South America, combining one of Brazil’s largest music transactions with the iconic stature of one of the country’s most influential cultural figures”.<\/p>\n They added that deal “redefin[es] the approach to catalog and legacy partnerships in the region”.<\/p>\n Gilberto Gil is described by Primary Wave and Nas Nuvens Music Group as one “of the most important and influential figures in not just music but Brazilian culture”.<\/p>\n Nas Nuvens was founded and is led by Liminha<\/strong>, described as “one of the most influential music producers in Latin America”.<\/p>\n Formed in 2021 through a partnership between private equity fund\u00a0Starboard Partners,<\/strong> the company set out to emulate Primary Wave\u2019s model in the Brazilian market \u2013 namely, acquiring partial stakes in the works of iconic artists.<\/p>\n Primary Wave is a strategic investor<\/strong> in the company, which shares its name with the Nas Nuvens Studio, founded by Liminha <\/strong>in partnership with Gilberto Gil\u00a0in Rio de Janeiro in 1984.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n Bloomberg<\/em> reported in 2024<\/a> that Primary Wave acquired a 50%<\/strong> stake in\u00a0Nas Nuvens Catalog<\/a>, valuing the Sao Paulo-headquartered company at around\u00a0USD $100 million<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Nas Nuvens<\/strong> manages more than 80<\/strong> music<\/strong> catalogs<\/strong> representing some of Brazil\u2019s “most iconic artists and songwriters”, including Carlinhos Brown, Chor\u00e3o (Charlie Brown Jr.), Arlindo Cruz, Zeca Baleiro, Vanessa da Mata, Vinicius Cantuaria, Celso Fonseca, Kiko Zambianchi, Sombrinha, Renato Teixeira, Raimundos, Nelson Ned, Nando Cordel, Zeeba, Bruno Martini, Matheus Aleixo, Tico Santa Cruz, Timbalada, Maneva, Planta e Raiz, and Flora Matos, among many others, as well as the catalogs of record labels such as CID, MZA, <\/strong>and Midas.<\/strong><\/p>\n According to the press release, the partnership will “focus on the concretization and preservation of Gilberto Gil\u2019s<\/strong> legacy”.<\/p>\n It will also focus on “accelerating the internationalization of his catalog and cultural impact among new generations, across new platforms, and to global audiences”.<\/p>\n The companies added that the deal builds on the “careful stewardship” led by Gilberto Gil’s wife Flora Gil and the team at independent record label Gege “over the past decades”.<\/p>\n \u201cGilberto Gil is the living embodiment of Brazilian culture on the world stage, representing everything that makes Brazil unique and globally relevant.”<\/p>\n Jason Eliasen, Nas Nuvens Music Group<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Jason Eliasen, CFO & COO, Nas Nuvens Music Group, added: \u201cGilberto Gil is the living embodiment of Brazilian culture on the world stage, representing everything that makes Brazil unique and globally relevant.<\/p>\n This partnership is not only iconic for Brazil, but a landmark moment for global music, recognizing the universal importance of Gil\u2019s work.<\/p>\n “It creates a powerful bridge between Brazil and the global music ecosystem, allowing us to anchor Gil\u2019s legacy at home while bringing his music, his image, and his story to audiences around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGilberto Gil is not only one of the greatest artists Brazil has ever produced \u2014 he is part of the soul of our culture.”<\/p>\n Liminha, CEO, Nas Nuvens Music Group<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Liminha, CEO, Nas Nuvens Music Group, added: \u201cGilberto Gil is not only one of the greatest artists Brazil has ever produced \u2014 he is part of the soul of our culture.<\/p>\n “I have had the privilege of walking alongside him for decades, as a producer, musician, composer, collaborator, and friend, and I have seen firsthand how deeply his music connects people across generations and transcends borders.<\/p>\n “I have learned a great deal by observing the wisdom he brings to everyday life. Beyond being a great artist, Gil is a great human being.<\/p>\n “At Nas Nuvens Music Group, this partnership is deeply personal to us: it is about honoring Gil\u2019s legacy with the respect it deserves and ensuring that his music continues to travel the world with the same strength, beauty, and freedom that have always defined his work.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cWe are thrilled to welcome Gilberto Gil and his family into the Primary Wave and Nas Nuvens family.”<\/p>\n Bill Cisneros, Primary Wave Music<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Bill Cisneros, President, Primary Wave Music, said: \u201cWe are thrilled to welcome Gilberto Gil and his family into the Primary Wave and Nas Nuvens family.<\/p>\n “We are deeply honored that Gil and team have selected Primary Wave and Nas Nuvens to help protect and grow the incredible legacy he has already given the world.\u201d<\/p>\n Primary Wave noted that Gil’s career, which began in the early 60s, “helped define the Tropic\u00e1lia movement and reshaped the trajectory of Latin music”.<\/p>\n His career spans more than six decades and includes more than 60 albums. Among his most best-known songs are Vamos Fugir,<\/em> Aquele Abraco,<\/em> Toda Menina Baiana, Andar com F\u00e9, Palco<\/em>, Realce<\/em>, and dozens of others, which Primary Wave noted “have become woven into Brazil\u2019s cultural fabric”.<\/p>\n His work has earned him two Grammy Awards, nine Latin Grammy Awards, and in 2005, he was the first Latin American recipient of the Polar Music Prize.<\/p>\n Gil collaborated with and “earned the admiration of” icons such as George Harrison, Stevie Wonder, and Sting.<\/p>\n He recorded a Brazilian version of No Woman, No Cry<\/em>\u00a0and is widely regarded as a pioneer in introducing reggae to Brazil.<\/p>\n Jimmy Cliff toured Brazil alongside Gil, and Gil recorded in Jamaica with The Wailers. In 2025, at 83 years of age, the “genre-bending” artist. who is “considered one of Brazil\u2019s greatest composers” announced his farewell tour performing across South America, Europe and the States.<\/p>\n Gil\u2019s farewell tour, Tempo Rei, continues through 2026, and will include a headlining performance at Rock in Rio.<\/p>\n Elsewhere, globally, in November, Primary Wave\u00a0partnered<\/a> with Derry Music Company for the music, publishing copyrights, and recording catalog of legendary jazz pianist and composer Dave Brubeck.<\/p>\n Also in November, the company entered into a partnership<\/a> with the estate of Phil<\/b> Lynott<\/b>, co-founder and songwriter of iconic Irish rock band Thin Lizzy<\/b>.<\/p>\n In October, the company struck a partnership with Grammy winner Patti<\/b> LaBelle<\/b>.<\/p>\n In July last year, the company struck a music rights deal<\/a>\u00a0with the Estate of legendary English blues rock singer-songwriter and guitarist, Peter<\/b> Green<\/b>.<\/p>\n In June 2025, Primary Wave partnered with<\/a>\u00a0Grammy-nominated band the Cars<\/b>.<\/p>\n In March last year, the company acquired<\/a>\u00a0a stake in the Biggie<\/b> Smalls<\/b> catalog, which was reported to have valued the artist\u2019s estate at $200 million<\/b>.<\/p>\n Primary Wave\u2019s portfolio also includes rights to works by\u00a0Bob Marley<\/b><\/a>,\u00a0<\/b>Whitney Houston<\/b><\/a>,\u00a0<\/b>Stevie Nicks<\/b><\/a>,\u00a0<\/b>and\u00a0Luther Vandross<\/b><\/a>. The company has also signed a marketing and publishing administration deal with Grammy-winning songwriter and performer\u00a0Jimmy Webb<\/b>, along with deals with the estate of country and folk singer-songwriter\u00a0Jerry Jeff Walker<\/b><\/span><\/a>, Grammy-winning violinist\u00a0Itzhak Perlman<\/b><\/a>, and\u00a0Feels So Good\u00a0<\/i>composer\u00a0Chuck Mangione<\/b><\/a>.<\/p>\n The company has also recently acquired the catalog of\u00a0Nuno Bettencourt<\/b><\/a>\u00a0of 90s rock band\u00a0Extreme<\/b>; inked a\u00a0publishing partnership<\/a>\u00a0with alt-rock band\u00a0The Spin Doctors<\/b>; and signed a\u00a0music rights deal<\/a>\u00a0with\u00a0Neil Finn<\/b>\u00a0of\u00a0Crowded House<\/b>.<\/p>\n Primary Wave also\u00a0struck a deal<\/a>\u00a0for the recorded, publishing, brand and name and likeness rights of\u00a0The Village People<\/b>\u00a0of\u00a0YMCA<\/i>\u00a0fame; a\u00a0catalog deal<\/a>\u00a0with the estate of songwriter and musician\u00a0P.F. Sloan<\/b>; and\u00a0a stake in the catalog<\/a>\u00a0of singer\/songwriter\u00a0Neil Sedaka<\/b>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Gilberto Gil is described as one ‘of the most important and influential figures in not just music but Brazilian culture’<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":249738,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-249724","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.musicbusinessworldwide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249724","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.musicbusinessworldwide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.musicbusinessworldwide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicbusinessworldwide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicbusinessworldwide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=249724"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicbusinessworldwide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249724\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":249759,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicbusinessworldwide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249724\/revisions\/249759"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicbusinessworldwide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/249738"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.musicbusinessworldwide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=249724"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicbusinessworldwide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=249724"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.musicbusinessworldwide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=249724"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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