Irving Azoff’s Iconic Artists Group has acquired a controlling stake in the Beach Boys’ intellectual property, including the band’s sound recordings, brand, select musical compositions, and memorabilia.
According to a press release, The Beach Boys and their heirs will retain an interest in their assets “to participate in the upside Iconic expects to create by actively marketing and promoting” the band.
However, much of the band’s evergreen 1960s-era catalog remains owned by Universal Music Group, which acquired Beach Boys recordings via the $1.9bn buyout of EMI Music in 2012.
Universal’s Bruce Resnikoff told Rolling Stone: “We have the original recordings, and we have the publishing, but our ability to do the most with this band relies on the ability to work with the band. Iconic will represent the band in a way that will only enhance, I think, the value for everybody.”
