Main Wave Music has entered into a brand new partnership with Pete Townshend, the co-founder and principal songwriter of legendary British rock band The Who.
Based on a press launch issued on Thursday (Could 14), the deal will see Main Wave associate with Townshend “on the exploitation of his title, picture, and likeness and the event and exploitation of future artistic initiatives”.
Selectionstories, citing sources, that the transaction is a $100 million-plus deal that features the acquisition of “sure music rights” together with Townshend’s “title, picture and likeness property”.
Spirit Music Group acquired Pete Townshend‘s curiosity in his total track catalog in 2012. It was reported on the time that the deal was estimated at as much as $100 million. It’s understood that the corporate not holds that curiosity in Townshend‘s track rights.
Selection additionally notes that Townshend’s solo recorded-music rights are held by a separate entity – previously referred to as Eel Pie Recording Productions, now Prolonged Play Restricted, in line with the UK’s Corporations Home – with many titles distributed by Common Music.
The Who‘s traditional recorded music catalog is owned and distributed byCommon Music Group.
The press launch famous that Main Wave’s licensing and sync division has already “been actively working with Townshend and the copyright homeowners of his catalog to put his songs throughout movie and tv”.
Townshend will even have entry to Main Wave‘s digital division to construct a social media presence, the press launch added.
Commenting on the brand new partnership, Pete Townshend stated: “Shifting ahead with my artistic and performative work with Main Wave, presently of my life when most creatives is perhaps slowing down, is a pleasure for me. Their total staff exhibit an power that’s actually stimulating.
“Difficult too. I would like that. I write songs, tales and poetry, and even draw and paint virtually day-after-day of my life. I work with musicians and different creatives, and spend numerous my time constructing charitable options for organizations that assist younger artistic individuals develop and succeed on this very onerous time. Music is my foremost medium.”
“Shifting ahead with my artistic and performative work with Main Wave, presently of my life when most creatives is perhaps slowing down, is a pleasure for me.”
Pete Townshend
He added: “With my extremely proficient spouse Rachel I’ve been supported on each stage to stay as younger as I can, and if I get too outdated to color I’ll borrow Matisses’s scissors. I’ve a sense Main Wave are sharpening up a particular pair for me.
“Then there’s Roger and all my mates and colleagues in and round The Who. We’re all the time attempting to provide you with SOMETHING particular, and God Keen will proceed to do this, hoping in the future we will astound you the best way we used to. I’ve all the time been one thing of an ex-art pupil, and which means my work spans numerous genres. Main Wave span much more genres than I do, and I do know we may have numerous enjoyable working collectively. Our first few conferences have been splendidly inspiring moments of shared journey.”
“We’re honored that he has chosen Main Wave as a associate and collaborator and look ahead to creating new alternatives collectively.”
Main Wave’s CEO & Founder Larry Mestel stated: “Pete Townshend is among the biggest and most influential rock icons in music historical past.
“We’re honored that he has chosen Main Wave as a associate and collaborator and look ahead to creating new alternatives collectively.”
“There isn’t any rock music with out the genius of Pete Townshend.”
Adam Lowenberg, Main Wave
Adam Lowenberg, Main Wave’s Chief Advertising Officer, added: “There isn’t any rock music with out the genius of Pete Townshend.
“An artist, innovator and songwriter who stands alone in his personal class of icon and legend. We’re extraordinarily honored to associate with Pete on his future endeavors.”
Over a profession spanning greater than 60 years, Townshend has written and carried out on songs together with My Era, Baba O’Riley, Behind Blue Eyes, Pinball Wizard, Gained’t Get Fooled Once more, and Let My Love Open the Door.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame as a member of The Who in 1990, acquired a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (additionally as a member of The Who) in 2001, and acquired Kennedy Heart Honors in 2008.
His rock opera Tommy was tailored right into a Broadway musical that acquired 11 Tony Award nominations in 1993, profitable 5 – together with Greatest Authentic Rating for Townshend.
Townshend‘s different main rock opera, Quadrophenia, written totally by him and initially launched in 1973, was tailored as a ballet final yr.
Choreographed by Paul Roberts and directed by Rob Ashford, the manufacturing premiered as a part of a UK tour in Could 2025 earlier than its official opening at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London in June 2025.
It subsequently transferred to New York Metropolis Heart for a restricted run in November 2025.
The Townshend deal marks the newest in a string of title, picture and likeness partnerships for Main Wave, which says it was one of many first music firms to put money into NIL rights when it launched in 2006.
The corporate’s broader technique for leveraging NIL rights was underscored final yr by the launch of Bob Marley Hope Highway, an immersive reside present in Las Vegas constructed across the late reggae icon’s title and picture.
Main Wave CEO Larry Mestel has stated that the corporate has 30-plus content material items in improvement, from immersive experiences to biographical movies and exhibitions, throughout its roster of legacy artists.
Different latest offers with a NIL element embrace a partnership masking the property of Harry Chapin, introduced final month, and a deal for the catalog and NIL rights of Eartha Kitt in March.
The New York-headquartered firm lately closed its fourth flagship music fund at $2.225 billion in complete commitments, exceeding each its $1.5 billion goal and $2 billion onerous cap.
In March, Main Wave introduced a definitive settlement to accumulate Kobalt from Francisco Companions, in a transaction that features funding from Brookfield Asset Administration and is anticipated to shut in Q3 2026.
The corporate’s portfolio spans rights within the music of Prince, Bob Marley, Whitney Houston, Stevie Nicks, James Brown, Smokey Robinson, Def Leppard, Aerosmith, and lots of others.Music Enterprise Worldwide
