Harbourview Snaps Up Jazz Legend George Benson's Master Royalty Rights
Harbourview Equity Partners has acquired the master royalty income of legendary jazz guitarist and singer-songwriter George Benson, marking another significant move in music IP acquisitions.
George Benson performs with electric guitar
Benson's impressive catalog includes 36 studio albums and 8 live albums, highlighted by his triple-platinum 1976 album 'Breezin',' which won three Grammy awards and remains one of the best-selling jazz albums ever. His 1980 hit "Give Me the Night," produced by Quincy Jones, recently gained renewed attention through a Steve Aoki remix in 2021.
Notable achievements in Benson's career include:
- NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship (2009)
- Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Honorary doctorates from three prestigious institutions
- Induction into DownBeat Magazine's Hall of Fame (2020)
- New Jersey Hall of Fame induction (2021)
In 2024, Benson returned to Warner Music Group, releasing "Dreams Do Come True: When George Benson Meets Robert Farnon," an 11-track orchestral project recorded 35 years ago with engineer Al Schmitt.
"We maintain a commitment to be a canon for legendary culture movers such as George Benson," stated Harbourview Equity Partners founder and CEO Sherrese Clarke Soares. "His artistry is distinct in its sound, with acoustics that forever stir emotions of a musical era that means so much to so many of us."
The transaction was facilitated by Fox Rothschild as legal counsel to Harbourview, while Manatt, Phelps & Phillips represented Benson. Financial terms were not disclosed.