The estate of legendary British singer Joe Cocker inks a broad-reaching development deal with Iconic Artists, including the singer’s music intellectual property assets and more.
Irving Azoff’s Iconic Artists Group has signed an agreement with the estate of Joe Cocker to acquire and develop the singer’s catalog spanning five decades. The acquisition includes the singer’s music intellectual property assets, including his interest in his sound recordings and compositions, as well as his name, image, and likeness.
Though Joe Cocker started working as a singer in the early 1960s, it wasn’t until 1969 that he hit the mainstream with his cover of the Beatles’ “With a Little Help From My Friends.” That track topped the British charts and garnered him a significant US following after his electrifying performance at Woodstock and its subsequent film.
With an unmistakable, powerful “soul-blues” voice and stage presence, Cocker’s popularity grew with his Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour, subsequent live album, and film featuring an all-star band led by Leon Russell.
His 1974 version of Billy Preston’s “You Are So Beautiful” reached No. 5 in the US, while his duet with Jennifer Warnes, “Up Where We Belong,” became a US. No. 1 and Grammy winner several years later.
Joe Cocker released 22 studio albums and was awarded a bronze Sheffield Legends plaque in his hometown in 2007. He received the distinction of Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) the following year.
“I had been considering this move for some time. It’s a big responsibility to manage such a wonderful legacy,” says the estate’s Pam Cocker. “Wanting only the best for it, I, along with the heirs to the estate, felt that now was the right time to turn over this role to Iconic.”
“We are excited to have the opportunity to tell the story of Joe’s brilliant career as an artist,” adds Iconic president Jimmy Edwards. “Our initial focus will be on Joe’s emergence as the preeminent interpreter of song in the late ’60s early ’70s when he electrified the world with the Grease Band and Mad Dogs & Englishmen. Through social channels and original content, we plan to celebrate not only Joe’s tremendous voice but a golden era in rock music culture.”
This deal follows Iconic’s recent acquisitions of interests in the catalogs of David Crosby, Dean Martin, Linda Ronstadt, Nat King Cole, and Stephen Stills. The company launched in January 2020 with the acquisition of a controlling interest in the Beach Boys’ legendary catalog.
