Rod Stewart and Ron Wood – The Faces – 1975 (Wikipedia)
Rod Stewart sold his entire music catalog to Iconic Artists Group, which is owned by entertainment mogul Irving Azoff, for $100 million.
In doing so, Rod Stewart joined a large number of recording artists who have chosen to sell off the rights to their music in recent years. He did not get nearly as much as Bob Dylan did when, at the end of 2020, Dylan sold his entire song catalog to Universal Music Publishing Group for as much as $400 million. And just before that Stevie Nicks sold her catalogue to Primary Wave, also for $100 million.
Each musician had his reasons for selling the rights to their recording catalogs.
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So, why did Rod Stewart do it too?
“This year marks my 60th year in the music industry,” Rod Stewart said in a statement explaining his decision. “The time is right, and I feel fortunate to have found partners in Irving and his team at Iconic that I can entrust with my life’s work and future musical legacy.”
“We are thrilled to welcome one of the most celebrated singer-songwriters of our time, Rod Stewart, to the Iconic family. Our new partnership with HPS provides us with the resources and flexibility to make blockbuster signings like this one and to continue the success of our legendary artists and their legacies,” said Irving Azoff.
Founded by veteran music executives Irving Azoff and Olivier Chastan in 2010, Iconic Artists Group is a brand development and management company dedicated to building a portfolio of iconic entertainment artists, creators, and brands. The company works with a diverse range of talent, including musicians, athletes, actors, comedians, and digital influencers.
Irving Azoff is a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, known for his diverse and successful career across various sectors. He founded The Azoff Company, overseeing the management of renowned artists like Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Jennifer Lopez, and Bon Jovi and served as Chairman & CEO of Ticketmaster Entertainment and CEO of Front Line Management Group.
Born Roderick David Stewart in London in 1945, Stewart’s musical journey began in his teenage years playing harmonica and singing in various bands. His professional career took off in the late 1960s when he joined the rock band “The Faces,” known for their bluesy rock sound and energetic live performances.
Sir Rod Stewart, as he is now known after being knighted in 2016, is a British rock and pop singer-songwriter whose career has spanned over five decades. He is widely recognized for his distinctive raspy voice and his impressive collection of hit songs, which have earned him numerous accolades and solidified his place as one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
