Blab Music
Primary Wave Secures Strategic Deal with Foreigner Founder Mick Jones to Expand Catalog, Touring, and Sync Opportunities
On August 1 2026, Primary Wave announced a partnership with Mick Jones, the founding guitarist and songwriter of rock icon Foreigner. The deal gives Primary Wave a securitization‑centered stake in Jones’s publishing and recorded catalogs—including classic hits such as “Feels Like the First Time,” “Cold as Ice,” and “Dirty White Boy”—and covers his name, image, and likeness rights as well as the band’s touring activities.
The agreement fits into Primary Wave’s broader push into the heritage‑artist sector. Founded in 2006 by Lawrence Mestel, the privately held company has built a reputation for leveraging marketing, branding, digital, and sync expertise to unlock value for legacy catalogs. According to the announcement, the partnership will tap Primary Wave’s experience in immersive entertainment—highlighted by the Bob Marley Hope Road experience—and the sold‑out run of Feels Like the First Time: The Foreigner Musical to bring new film and television projects to the Foreigner brand.
Under the terms disclosed to DMN, Primary Wave now owns stakes in several dozen recordings and compositions. In addition to the headline tracks, the catalog includes “Break It Up,” “Headknocker,” “I Need You,” and a remix of “Hot Blooded.” Live‑recorded versions of “Dirty White Boy” and multiple studio tracks from the 1979 album Head Games also fall under the portfolio.
The deal arrives as Foreigner marks its 50th anniversary. The New York‑based band—formed in 1976—has scheduled more than 90 shows for 2026, including a historic concert on Ellis Island that will be filmed for a documentary and a live album. Mick Jones, 81, said the partnership would help elevate the band’s brand and songs.
Larry Mestel, CEO of Primary Wave, noted that the collaboration would “take their songs and brand to even higher levels.” He praised Jones’s prolific songwriting and Foreigner’s status as one of the few remaining super‑groups that continue to deliver strong live performances. Mestel also highlighted the involvement of Jones’s long‑term managers, Phil Carson and Stewart Young, in the partnership.
Jones expressed enthusiasm, commending Primary Wave’s focus on heritage artists. He emphasized the upcoming Ellis Island concert, which will feature original members Lou Gramm and Al Greenwood, and said the collaboration would provide a “better home” for Foreigner’s future projects.
From an industry standpoint, the agreement illustrates a growing trend of catalog monetization through strategic alliances. By securing publishing and recorded rights, Primary Wave can deploy its existing infrastructure for digital marketing, sync licensing, and brand partnerships. The inclusion of name, image, and likeness rights positions the company to tap the expanding NIL market that has become a significant revenue stream for legacy artists.
Foreigner’s catalog is already a substantial asset: worldwide sales exceed 80 million records, the 1977 debut produced two U.S. Top 10 singles, the 1981 album 4 topped the U.S. charts for ten weeks, and Agent Provocateur yielded the worldwide hit “I Want to Know What Love Is.” The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024.
Primary Wave began acquiring catalog stakes in 2016 and has since expanded into film, television, and digital marketing, positioning it to support artists beyond traditional publishing. The partnership with Mick Jones is the latest example of that strategy.
The immediate impact is expected in the synchronization market, where the classic rock catalog can be pitched for film, television, and advertising. The company’s track record with immersive experiences and musical theater suggests it will seek to develop new content around Foreigner’s legacy.
In short, Primary Wave’s acquisition of Mick Jones’s publishing and recorded rights, along with touring and NIL arrangements, marks a significant expansion of the company’s heritage‑artist portfolio. The collaboration aligns with Foreigner’s 50th‑anniversary celebrations and positions both parties to explore new revenue streams through marketing, branding, digital initiatives, and media projects. The partnership takes effect immediately, with Primary Wave already working on sync and marketing strategies for Foreigner’s catalog. Further details on upcoming film, television, and touring projects are expected in the coming months as the two parties develop their joint roadmap.
The agreement fits into Primary Wave’s broader push into the heritage‑artist sector. Founded in 2006 by Lawrence Mestel, the privately held company has built a reputation for leveraging marketing, branding, digital, and sync expertise to unlock value for legacy catalogs. According to the announcement, the partnership will tap Primary Wave’s experience in immersive entertainment—highlighted by the Bob Marley Hope Road experience—and the sold‑out run of Feels Like the First Time: The Foreigner Musical to bring new film and television projects to the Foreigner brand.
Under the terms disclosed to DMN, Primary Wave now owns stakes in several dozen recordings and compositions. In addition to the headline tracks, the catalog includes “Break It Up,” “Headknocker,” “I Need You,” and a remix of “Hot Blooded.” Live‑recorded versions of “Dirty White Boy” and multiple studio tracks from the 1979 album Head Games also fall under the portfolio.
The deal arrives as Foreigner marks its 50th anniversary. The New York‑based band—formed in 1976—has scheduled more than 90 shows for 2026, including a historic concert on Ellis Island that will be filmed for a documentary and a live album. Mick Jones, 81, said the partnership would help elevate the band’s brand and songs.
Larry Mestel, CEO of Primary Wave, noted that the collaboration would “take their songs and brand to even higher levels.” He praised Jones’s prolific songwriting and Foreigner’s status as one of the few remaining super‑groups that continue to deliver strong live performances. Mestel also highlighted the involvement of Jones’s long‑term managers, Phil Carson and Stewart Young, in the partnership.
Jones expressed enthusiasm, commending Primary Wave’s focus on heritage artists. He emphasized the upcoming Ellis Island concert, which will feature original members Lou Gramm and Al Greenwood, and said the collaboration would provide a “better home” for Foreigner’s future projects.
From an industry standpoint, the agreement illustrates a growing trend of catalog monetization through strategic alliances. By securing publishing and recorded rights, Primary Wave can deploy its existing infrastructure for digital marketing, sync licensing, and brand partnerships. The inclusion of name, image, and likeness rights positions the company to tap the expanding NIL market that has become a significant revenue stream for legacy artists.
Foreigner’s catalog is already a substantial asset: worldwide sales exceed 80 million records, the 1977 debut produced two U.S. Top 10 singles, the 1981 album 4 topped the U.S. charts for ten weeks, and Agent Provocateur yielded the worldwide hit “I Want to Know What Love Is.” The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024.
Primary Wave began acquiring catalog stakes in 2016 and has since expanded into film, television, and digital marketing, positioning it to support artists beyond traditional publishing. The partnership with Mick Jones is the latest example of that strategy.
The immediate impact is expected in the synchronization market, where the classic rock catalog can be pitched for film, television, and advertising. The company’s track record with immersive experiences and musical theater suggests it will seek to develop new content around Foreigner’s legacy.
In short, Primary Wave’s acquisition of Mick Jones’s publishing and recorded rights, along with touring and NIL arrangements, marks a significant expansion of the company’s heritage‑artist portfolio. The collaboration aligns with Foreigner’s 50th‑anniversary celebrations and positions both parties to explore new revenue streams through marketing, branding, digital initiatives, and media projects. The partnership takes effect immediately, with Primary Wave already working on sync and marketing strategies for Foreigner’s catalog. Further details on upcoming film, television, and touring projects are expected in the coming months as the two parties develop their joint roadmap.
