Mary J. Blige has sold undisclosed shares of her publishing and recorded-music assets to Primary Wave Music, the independent publisher announced on October 26, 2026. The deal covers compositions and recordings from across the nine-time Grammy winner’s career, including signature hits such as “Family Affair,” “My Life,” “Mary Jane (All Night Long),” “You Bring Me Joy,” “Be Happy,” “Be Without You,” and “I Can Love You.”
Financial terms and the exact percentage of ownership transferred were not disclosed. While Variety reported the transaction as a sale of shares in her publishing and recorded-music assets, Primary Wave’s official framing emphasizes a partnership that gives Blige and her team access to the company’s marketing, publishing, branding, digital, and synchronization infrastructure for new licensing, promotional, and commercial opportunities.
Known as the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, Blige has sold more than 50 million records worldwide across 15 studio albums, two live albums, and 83 singles. Her catalog runs from her 1992 debut *What’s the 411?* (certified four-times platinum) through later releases. She has earned nine Grammy Awards from 37 nominations, 12 Billboard Music Awards, and two Oscar nominations (for her acting and the song “Mighty River” from the film *Mudbound*). She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2018 and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2024.
Natalia Nastaskin, Primary Wave’s Chief Content Officer, said in a statement: “From the moment I heard ‘You Remind Me’ on NY’s KISS-FM, I became a Day 1 Mary J. Blige fan. For over 30 years, she has gifted the world with hit after undeniable hit and in the process has created the soundtrack of our lives. To partner with the Queen herself on her extraordinary catalog and her everlasting legacy is an honor for our entire Primary Wave team.”
The move comes as Blige continues her first Las Vegas residency, *Mary J. Blige: My Life, My Story*, at Dolby Live at Park MGM. The run, which began in May 2026, has been extended through February 2027.
Catalog deals of this kind have become common among established artists seeking to monetize their legacies while partnering with specialized firms for ongoing exploitation in streaming, sync licensing, and branding. Primary Wave has pursued similar arrangements with other iconic catalogs. Most of Blige’s studio albums were originally released through MCA and Geffen (now under Universal Music Group), so the new deal focuses on the rights she controlled in the compositions and recordings involved.
The transaction underscores the enduring commercial and cultural value of Blige’s work more than three decades after her breakthrough.