All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Lululemon rarely discounts its most popular styles, but the brand’s latest Summer Sale is changing that. For a limited time, shoppers can score hundreds of deals across the brand’s activewear lineup, including fan-favorite leggings, workout tops, shorts and accessories starting at just $19.

Unlike Lululemon’s We Made Too Much section, which offers discounted styles year-round and receives drops of close-out or discontinued merch every Thursday, this rare sale includes some of the brand’s most in-demand pieces. Shoppers can finally score viral favorites like the Align Pants with pockets and the bestselling ABC Trousers at a lower price than normal.

The ABC Trousers have become a cult favorite thanks to their comfortable design and signature “anti-ball crushing” technology, which uses an ergonomic gusset to help reduce tension and provide a more comfortable fit. Meanwhile, the Align Pants remain one of Lululemon’s most popular leggings, known for their buttery-soft feel and versatile design.

With select items up to 65% off, Lululemon’s Summer Sale is a rare opportunity to shop the brand’s best-selling activewear for less. From workout essentials to everyday staples, these deals are worth browsing before popular sizes and styles sell out.

lululemon viral Align leggings, 25-inches

VIRAL PICK

Align High Rise Pants

$59 $98 40% off

Buy Now at lululemon

Buttery-soft leggings with a hidden waistband pocket.


The Lululemon Align Pants are one of the brand’s best-selling leggings for a reason. The viral style features a buttery-soft feel that shoppers love, plus a wide waistband for comfortable coverage that won’t dig into your waist. It also includes a hidden pocket inside the waistband where you can safely store small essentials like keys or cards while on the go. Available in 25-inch, 28-inch and 31-inch lengths, the Align Pants are now included in Lululemon’s 2026 Summer Sale, with select colors starting at $59 and going up to $89.

More reasons to love — and live — in these leggings? Country star Kelsea Ballerini is an official Lululemon ambassador and starred in a campaign promoting her favorite Align styles.

lululemon pace breaker short with no lining, seven-inch length

MAXIMUM COMFORT

Pace Breaker Linerless Short

$39 $68 43% off

Buy Now At lululemon

Sweat-wicking shorts designed for running and training.


These athlete-backed Lululemon shorts are designed for both workouts and everyday wear, thanks to their lightweight, quick-drying fabric and breathable construction. The style features a grid mesh inner waistband and mesh fabric at the back yoke to help provide extra ventilation, while the streamlined fit gives your glutes and thighs room to move. Plus, four-way stretch technology delivers added comfort and flexibility with every step. Lewis Hamilton is another Lululemon ambassador and a fan of these shorts.

lululemon classic blue and white ball cap with script writing on the front

YEAR-ROUND FAVORITE

Structured Classic Ball Cap Script

Structured Classic Ball Cap Script

$19 $29 34% off

Buy Now at lululemon

A classic always-in-style ball cap with a script logo.


Made from structured cotton twill fabric that’s soft and breathable, this crisp white ball cap with vibrant blue script detailing is a year-round accessory you’ll want to shop for just $19. An interior moisture-wicking sweatband helps keep sweat at bay, while the adjustable back closure neatly tucks into a hidden pocket for a sleeker, more streamlined look.

lululemon baby tee made from organic cotton and on sale

Y2K STAPLE

Organic Cotton Baby Tee

Organic Cotton Baby Tee

$34 $48 29% off

Buy Now at lululemon

A 90s-inspired tee made from organic cotton jersey.


In case you haven’t heard, the 90s are back, and this baby tee is quickly becoming a capsule wardrobe staple. The fitted style features four-way stretch with added Lycra fiber to help maintain its shape while offering a comfortable, flexible fit. Made from organic cotton, it’s naturally breathable and lightweight enough for everyday wear. The silhouette hits just above the waist and contours to your body for a flattering fit that makes it easy to style with everything from low-rise jeans to leggings.

Lululemon Summer Sale 2026: Save Up to 65% Off Leggings, Shorts, Bags

SELL-OUT RISK

ABC Slim Fit Trouser

$69 $138 50% off

Buy Now at lululemon

Sweat-wicking pants with ABC (Anti-Ball-Crushing) technology.


The men’s ABC Trousers quickly became another Lululemon best-seller thanks to their unique ergonomic gusset, which is designed to reduce tension in the crotch area for a more comfortable fit. Made from a breathable fabric with four-way stretch, these versatile trousers offer easy movement while featuring a discreet zippered pocket along the side seam to safely store small essentials.

lululemon dual pouch wristlet in a cherry red colorway

TWO-IN-ONE ACCESSORY

Dual Pouch Wristlet

$39 $48 19% off

Buy Now at lululemon

A cherry red wristlet with two zipper pouches, perfect for storing ID, keys and makeup.


For those always on the go, the Lululemon wristlet is a convenient way to store your everyday essentials. It features two zippered pouches, with each compartment measuring 4.5″ x 0.2″ x 2.8″ to help keep small items organized. The pouches are also detachable, allowing them to be used separately as a standalone wallet when you only need to carry the essentials.

lululemon high-rise running shorts with stretchy waistband

COMFORTABLE FIT

Shake It Out High-Rise Running Short

$24 $68 65% off

Buy Now at lululemon

A sweat-wicking running short with a relaxed fit, made from 100% recycled polyester.


With a built-in liner for added coverage and a hidden card pocket, these quick-drying shorts are designed for running and everyday movement. The lightweight style features added stretch for a comfortable fit, while shoppers praise the flattering length and silhouette that helps create the appearance of curves on athletic figures. Available for just $24, these versatile shorts are a standout deal.

lululemon soft Nulu scoop-neck bra with light support

LOW-IMPACT ESSENTIAL

Nulu Ribbed Scoop-Neck Bra Light Support

$49 $58 16% off

Buy Now at lULUlemon

A light support workout yoga bra made from lululemon’s soft ribbed Nulu fabric.


This fuss-free yoga bra features a classic scoopneck design that’s made for both on and off the mat. Designed for B/C cups and low-impact activities, the style offers a comfortable fit with a soft, brushed underband for added support. It also features a sweat-wicking, four-way stretch liner that helps keep you comfortable through every activity.

lululemon black satin gym shorts for men with checkerboard pattern

GAME-DAY READY

Checkerboard Satin Linerless Gym Short

$49 $78 37% off

Buy Now At lululemon

Seven-inch gym shorts designed for intensive training.


These satin black shorts were made for movement, thanks to their sweat-wicking and quick-drying fabric designed to help keep you comfortable during activity. The style features a roomy fit through the glutes and thighs, along with a strategically placed gusset that allows for increased mobility. Side splits at the hem provide added ease of movement, making them a versatile choice for workouts, sports and everyday wear.

Quilty Pleasures Shoulder Bag
Mini 5L

LUXE LOOK FOR LESS

Quilty Pleasures Shoulder Bag<br>Mini 5L

$39 $98 60% off

Buy Now AT LULULEMON

And I love this Lululemon shoulder bag, which features a quilted design that’s as stylish as it is practical.


The shoulder bag is roomy enough to fit up to a 13-inch laptop but compact enough to double as an accessible everyday carry. The quilted nylon lends a sporty look and feel to the classic sling bag silhouette. The material is water-resistant too, so you don’t have to worry if you’re accidentally caught out in the rain. An adjustable shoulder strap lets you carry this bag tight under the arm, low and slouchy, or as a tote.

Lululemon’s collection of bags have become as popular as its apparel in recent years and this is a chance to score a discount on a trending style.

Lululemon’s popularity extends far beyond workout studios, with the brand becoming a favorite among athletes, musicians and celebrities. In 2025, the activewear label named Formula 1 driver Hamilton as a global ambassador, with the seven-time world champion praising the brand’s performance-focused designs. “Lululemon product is such high quality, looks amazing, and ultimately delivers the performance I need it to,” Hamilton shared in a press release.

That same year, Lululemon expanded its presence in music by partnering with Ballerini as an ambassador, featuring the singer-songwriter in the brand’s Align collection. The campaign highlighted the crossover between performance, comfort and everyday style, showing how Lululemon has become a staple both inside and outside the gym.

Now, shoppers can take advantage of the brand’s rare Summer Sale to score some of its most recognizable styles for less.

Shop the full Lululemon 2026 summer sale selection online here.

Run-D.M.C. has been Raising Hell for over four decades. With the Queens-bred crew’s Raising Hell album celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, Run-D.M.C.’s Darryl “D.M.C.” McDaniels and Joseph “Run” Simmons sat down with Billboard on Thursday (July 9) to reflect on the seminal LP’s impact on hip-hop.

Raising Hell was special because we wasn’t trying to make a music industry album; we was trying to make a hip-hop album,” D.M.C. explained.

Raising Hell served as Run-D.M.C.’s third album, which arrived on May 15, 1986. The project debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and was powered by singles like their cover of Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way,” “My Adidas” and “It’s Tricky.”

Raising Hell is the prototype, the blueprint. It’s the Sgt. Peppers of hip-hop. It made everybody after us, if you want to do an album, you got to do it on that level,” D.M.C. continued.

“Walk This Way” notched the first-ever top five hit for a hip-hop single on the Billboard Hot 100, as it reached No. 4.

Run-D.M.C. knocked down plenty of doors in their journey. They were the first hip-hop group to receive a Grammy nomination and Raising Hell was the first rap album to go platinum.

“40 years, I pray it lives up to how me and D felt in ’87 going on tour,” Run added. “[Producer] Jam Master Jay was everything to Raising Hell… He was like the one-man-band making Raising Hell.

Watch the full video of Run-D.M.C. reliving Raising Hell below.

More than a dozen U.S. music industry groups are asking for the federal government’s help fighting a European Union policy proposal that could erase nearly $300 million in annual royalties for American artists and labels.

The Recording Academy, SoundExchange, the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), ASCAP, BMI and eight other organizations sent a letter on Wednesday (July 8) to Jamieson Greer, the U.S. Trade Representative, urging him to stop Europe from changing its rules around recorded royalties for terrestrial radio plays and public performances at commercial establishments.

Related

The European Commission (EC), the main executive body for the European Union (EU), announced in May that it was considering legislation to overturn a 2020 court ruling that required member states to pay public performance royalties to all sound recording rightsholders, regardless of nationality. Before then, EU countries operated under a principle of “material reciprocity” — that is, only giving such royalties to international artists and labels whose home countries offer the same. This effectively excluded Americans, since U.S. law sets forth a public performance royalty for publishing, but not for recorded music (with the exception of digital streams).

The EC is now thinking about reinstating material reciprocity in order “to make the European music market more competitive and prevent royalties from being diverted away from European music producers and performers,” per the May announcement. On Wednesday, the U.S. organizations said that would “mark a dramatic policy reversal and codify discrimination against American creators into EU law.”

“If adopted, this change would put at risk nearly $300 million in annual royalties that American artists and rights owners currently receive from Europe,” wrote the groups. “We urge USTR to take immediate and decisive action to oppose this proposal.”

The coalition argued that the U.S. government should oppose the EC by “fully leveraging available trade tools — including sustained bilateral engagement, coordinated multilateral pressure, and, if necessary, targeted enforcement measures.”

Related

The EC’s legislation proposal has also drawn pushback from Warner Music Group (WMG), which wrote in a June 25 comment to the commission that “protection of foreign copyrights is essential to investment in EU copyright industries.”

“The application of material reciprocity would have a significant detrimental impact on the European music industry,” argued WMG. “Removing protections from [non- qualifying] catalogue creates an unfair market in which music users are incentivized to use unprotected music to avoid having to pay for the use of music. Put simply, material reciprocity will mean less money flowing to artists, those who invest in new music, artists and writers, and through the relevant collective management entities.”

On the other hand, many European rightsholder groups have long lobbied the EC to overturn the 2020 ruling and make material reciprocity the law of the land, citing concerns that their artists and labels would have their long-standing royalties siphoned off by U.S. rightsholders. IMPALA, the European indie artist advocacy group, wrote in its own comment to the EC on June 25, “We welcome the EC’s confirmation that it is considering to clarify the EU rules on the application of material reciprocity.”

“Without EC action… the [2020] judgement will result in future outflows of money to the U.S. and other countries which currently do not, or might decide not to in the future, protect their recordings in the same way as the EU does,” wrote the group. “IMPALA calculated that in the absence of EU intervention, the transfer of revenues out of Europe to the U.S. alone resulting from the absence of material reciprocity would be more than €125m per annum, or €1.25bn over a period of 10 years.”


Billboard VIP Pass

Eslabon Armado scores its eighth straight top 10 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart with its ninth studio album, NOCTURNO, as the album bows at No. 8 on the July 11-dated list. The set also arrives at No. 5 on Top Regional Mexican Albums chart.

Fueled largely by streaming, NOCTURNO debuts in the top 10 on both tallies after earning 9,000 equivalent album units in the United States in the tracking week ending July 2; the album’s 16 songs drew 9.4 million official on-demand streams in its opening week, per Luminate.

Related

As Eslabon Armado returns to the top 10 on Top Latin Albums, it becomes the first regional Mexican group to debut in the chart’s upper region in 2026 — and the first in more than a year, since Fuerza Regida’s 111XPANTÍA in May 2025. Five other regional Mexican acts have debuted in the top 10 on Top Latin Albums this year, all soloists; Tito Double P accounts for two of those entries, with the Peso Pluma collab, DINASTÍA (No. 1 in January) and ACOMODO (No. 3 in June).

Eslabon Armado adds its eighth consecutive top 10 start on both Top Latin Albums and Regional Mexican Albums. Among those, Corta Venas remains the longest-leading No. 1 album by a group in the history of the Top Regional Mexican Albums chart, which launched in 1994. Overall, the album still holds the third longest command, after Selena’s Amor Prohibido (97 weeks atop) and Christian Nodal’s Me Dejé Llevar (73 weeks at the summit).

Consisting of 16 songs, NOCTURNO features guest appearances by Peso Pluma, Calle 24, Tombochio, Clave Especial, Gabito Ballesteros, Jorsshh and ERRE. Leading the album’s chart action, “Amigos Con Derechos,” with Peso Pluma, opens at No. 7 on Hot Latin Songs, largely powered by 2.5 million streams during the tracking week —enough for a No. 14 start on Latin Streaming Songs.

The song returns Eslabon to the top 10 on Hot Latin Song for the first time since “La Durango,” its Peso Pluma and Junior H team-up, peaking at No. 2 in 2024.

Elsewhere, “Amigos Con Derechos” proves its pull beyond its Hot Latin Songs success, giving Eslabon its first entrance on the Hot Regional Mexican Songs chart, where it starts at No. 2 thanks to its streaming activity.

Brian Potter, a Grammy-nominated producer and songwriter best known for co-producing Glen Campbell’s 1975 Rhinestone Cowboy album, died June 30 in Granada Hills, Calif., following years living with vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s, according to his daughter. He was 87.

Potter, who was born in Essex, England, played in bands as a teen and even toured across the U.K. and Europe briefly as the drummer for Chuck Berry, scored his first hit in 1965 as a songwriter on the Small Faces’ debut single “Whatcha Gonna Do About It,” written with Ian Samwell. The song reached No. 14 on the U.K. Official Singles Chart.

Shortly thereafter, Potter met Dennis Lambert, a singer/songwriter in the U.S. Army stationed in Europe, and the pair became songwriting partners, leading to Potter moving to the U.S.

Together, the pair landed numerous hits starting with 1969’s anti-war song “One Tin Soldier,” which was first recorded by The Original Caste. A 1971 version by Coven became the theme to the movie Billy Jack, and Skeeter Davis’ rendition received a Grammy nomination for best female country vocal performance.

Several hits penned by Potter and Lambert followed, including writing and producing a number of albums for the Four Tops following the R&B group’s departure from Motown, that included such hits as “Keeper of the Castle” and “Ain’t No Woman (Like the One I Got),” from the Lambert/Potter-produced album 1972’s Keeper of the Castle (with collaborator Steve Barri).

The pair landed their own imprint, Haven Records, at Capitol Records, and in the mid-’70s began working with Campbell on the 1975 Rhinestone Cowboy concept album about an aging country musician. The title track, written by Larry Weiss, earned Potter and his collaborators a Grammy nomination for producer of the year, and won him an Academy of Country Music Award as well as American Music Award.

Other 1970s’ Billboard Hot 100 hits penned by the duo included Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynold’s “Don’t Pull Your Love” (No. 4), the Grass Roots’ Two Divided By Love” (No. 16), The Righteous Brothers’ “Dream On” (No. 32) and Tavares’ “It Only Takes a Minute” (No. 10). As producers, they also continued to score hits, including Player’s No. 1 tune, “Baby Come Back.”   

After writing Score, a musical about Harlem Globetrotters founder Abe Saperstein, Lambert and Potter amicably split and Potter, with composer Wayne Green, wrote two musicals through SGI-USA, the Buddhist organization both men belonged to: This is America: A Musical Revue (1988) and This is America: The New World (1989), both of which toured more than 10 cities across the country.

Then, through Landmark Entertainment Group, the pair wrote more than 20 songs for Japanese theme park Puroland, while also writing and producing two children’s music albums for Here We Go, Kids. Continuing working with theme parks, Potter consulted with Universal Studios Hollywood in the early ‘90s on projects including Beetlejuice’s Rockin’ Graveyard Revue and The Blues Brothers Show.

In 2025, Lambert and Potter were nominated for induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in the non-performing songwriters category.

Survivors include Potter’s wife of 55 years, Karen; daughter Courtney and stepdaughter Mary Shirley; two brothers; and a number of other relatives. Donations in his memory can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the Motion Picture & Television Fund. A celebration of life will be held in the fall.

Nikki Glaser received three Primetime Emmy nominations on Wednesday (July 8), two for her own special Nikki Glaser: Good Girl and one as host of the 83rd annual Golden Globes.

The Globes are nominated for outstanding variety special (live) for the first time since 2020, before a scandal over membership and ethics took the show off the air for one year and led to a reckoning and rebirth.

Related

“Hosting the Golden Globes is the greatest job I may ever have,” Glaser said in a statement. “I am so thrilled that the incredible team behind this massive live production got the nomination they deserve. Thank you to the Television Academy! We are all thrilled that we get to attend and enjoy an award show rather than working our asses off at one!”

Glaser has already been announced as host of the 2027 Golden Globes, which will be her third consecutive outing as host. She’ll be the first person or team to host three years running since Tina Fey and Amy Poehler co-hosted from 2013-15. Glaser’s other nominations this year are as executive producer/performer of Nikki Glaser: Good Girl, which is vying for outstanding variety special (pre-recorded) and outstanding writing for variety special as the show’s sole writer.

Helen Hoehne, president of the Golden Globes, also weighed in on the show’s nomination for outstanding variety special (live).    

“This Emmy nomination is a tremendous honor and a reflection of the extraordinary talent, creativity, and commitment of everyone who helped bring the 83rd Annual Golden Globes to life. From our host Nikki Glaser, to our producers and production partners to our creative teams, presenters, and everyone behind the scenes, this recognition belongs to the many people whose passion and dedication made this year’s show possible. We are grateful to the Television Academy for this incredible honor.”

RuPaul Charles was nominated for outstanding host for a reality or reality competition program for RuPaul’s Drag Race for the 11th year in a row, extending his record for the most nominations in the history of the category.

“This wonderful news comes as we are filming the 19th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. We are all extremely grateful for the love, the freedom and the employment. On behalf of our brilliant, lovely cast and crew, thank you to the Television Academy for 11 gag-worthy nominations. Everybody say love!”

The ACM Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Billboard parent company Penske Media.

Future is gearing up for a summer takeover. Ahead of The Real Me‘s arrival later this week, Pluto shared the official cover art and track list for the LP on Wednesday (July 8).

Future posted the cover art to Instagram, which finds him shirtless, delivering a menacing stare into the camera with his twists freshly dyed blonde and a black backdrop.

“Who u think featured on my album,” he wrote, seemingly revealing there will be guests on the LP, but he’s not ready to share them just yet, as fans may have to find out Friday (July 10).

The album boasts 22 tracks in total and includes the previously released single “Radio.” Song titles include “California Girls,” “Fukk a Interview,” “Snow in Skyami” and “2018.”

Future is seeking his 12th No. 1 album atop the Billboard 200 collectively. His last nine solo albums, including the pair he teamed up with Metro Boomin on the production side in 2024, all reached the summit.

Before he announced plans for an album in June, Pluto has been keeping busy for the last couple of months. He ended his beef with Drake in May to reunite on ICEMAN‘s “Ran to Atlanta,” which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The Atlanta rap dignitary also teamed up with Tyla for a FIFA World Cup 2026 anthem titled “Game Time.” They joined forces for the live debut of the collab in June for the World Cup’s Opening Ceremony at SoFi Stadium.

Find the cover art and track list for The Real Me below.

Ed Sheeran will sign a record deal with Interscope, sources have confirmed with Billboard. The news comes after Sheeran announced in May that he had left his longtime label home, Warner Music Group (WMG).

Related

Sheeran signed with Asylum/Atlantic U.K. A&R Ed Howard in 2011. Shortly after that, he rose to fame with the release of his 2011 debut album, +, which was certified three-times platinum by the RIAA. His sophomore set, x, was an even bigger seller thanks to the success of singles like “Thinking Out Loud,” “Don’t” and “Photograph,” all of which hit the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. He continued a string of chart successes with subsequent releases, scoring a total of eight top five albums on the Billboard 200, including four No. 1s. He’s also scored a total of nine top 10 singles on the Hot 100, including two No. 1s: “Shape of You” and “Perfect,” both released in 2017.

“I’ve decided to leave Asylum/Warner last month. I leave the company with SO much love and gratitude for everything we have achieved together,” Sheeran said in announcing his exit from WMG. “This isn’t a ‘disgruntled artist leaves record label’ type situation. This is a boy who started as a teenager on the company with different priorities, to the father of 2 man who exists now, who feels like he needs a shift and change in the way he does things professionally.”

WMG will hold onto Sheeran’s catalog of hits and has long-term licenses for his two most recent albums, Autumn Variations and Play, both of which were jointly released on Sheeran’s own label, Gingerbread Man, and Atlantic.

Interscope did not immediately respond to Billboard‘s request for comment. The Hollywood Reporter was first to report the news.


Billboard VIP Pass

Kylie Cantrall is entering a new era with the release of her upcoming EP, Valley Girl Problems.

The Disney star’s latest project is set for release on July 24. Valley Girl Problems is an eight-track EP that marks a new chapter for the Venezuelan-American artist, as she continues to transition from her acting career and her role as Red in the Descendants franchise to becoming a household name in pop music. 

Related

The EP’s lead single “Carrie Bradshaw” was released in April, while other tracks include “Grwm,” the title track, “Closet,” “Girls Like U,” “Yuck!” and two interludes titled “The Problem” and “The Answer.”

“I’ve always heard people say, ‘Write what you know,’ and that’s exactly what I did with this EP,” Cantrall said of the project. “Valley Girl Problems truly captures everything I’ve experienced over the last year and how I’ve embraced this new chapter of my life.”

Valley Girl Problems was produced by Tricky Stewart — known for working with artists such as Rihanna and Tyla — and written alongside Tayla Parx, who co-wrote the song inspired by the iconic Sex and the City character and is a hitmaking co-writer for Ariana Grande, Panic! at the Disco and more.

The release of Valley Girl Problems will follow Cantrall’s return to Descendants: Wicked Wonderland, a sequel to The Rise of Red, debuting July 16 on Disney Channel. The Disney production marks the fifth installment in the Descendants franchise, in which she portrays the daughter of the Queen of Hearts, played by singer Rita Ora.

Earlier this year, the actress and singer signed to Republic Records, in partnership with APG and Heroine Music. Last year, Cantrall released her debut EP, B.O.Y., which included the singles “Boy for a Day,” “Goodie Bag,” “Denim” and “See U Tonight.”

The Valley Girl Problems track list:

  1. Grwm
  2. Valley Girl Problems
  3. Closet
  4. The Problem (interlude)
  5. Carrie Bradshaw
  6. The Answer (interlude) 
  7. Girls Like U
  8. “Yuck!”
  9. Space Between

On Tuesday (July 7), Primary Wave officially passed all relevant regulatory scrutiny and closed its acquisition of Kobalt, Billboard has confirmed. The deal is estimated to be worth more than $1.5 billion.

The possibility of the deal was first reported by Billboard in February. At the time, it was estimated that if Primary Wave and Kobalt were to go through with it, the combined companies would be worth $7 billion in assets. By March 23, a press release announced that Primary Wave’s acquisition was officially happening and would include Kobalt’s worldwide operations, its catalog of copyrights and digital collection society AMRA.

Related

Under the new ownership of Primary Wave, the two companies will continue to operate as standalone firms. Kobalt will retain CEO Laurent Hubert as its leader.

Primary Wave and Kobalt are both indie music giants in their own right, but the two have different focuses. Primary Wave is focused on big-name catalog acquisitions, with a portfolio containing stakes in catalogs from Prince, Whitney Houston, James Brown, Stevie Nicks, Luther Vandross, Bob Marley, Britney Spears and Jackson Brown. Kobalt has a different approach, focusing on offering a large roster of current songwriting talent with publishing administration aid and help collecting royalties, among other services, for signees like Phoebe Bridgers, Panic! At the Disco, Childish Gambino, Bon Iver, Kali Uchis, Paul McCartney and more.

Kobalt often ranks on Billboard’s Publishers’ Quarterly list as the largest independent music publisher by market share. In 2022, it was acquired by a group of investors led by Francisco Partners (which held a controlling 90% interest) in a deal that valued the company at around $750 million. Since then, the company has continued to grow its roster and improve profits. In recent years, Kobalt launched KOSIGN, its solution for young songwriters looking for flexible deal terms, and launched a joint venture with Morgan Stanley’s Tactical Value group with $700 million to invest in music copyrights.

While Primary Wave has ownership in an enviable catalog of hit songs, it’s historically been dependent on other publishers — including but not limited to Kobalt — to handle publishing administration. Sometimes, when Primary Wave acquires a catalog, the songs will be tied up in other incomplete publishing deals. For those catalogs that are free to move publishers, Primary Wave often assigns their administration, with songwriter consent, to Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), sources say.

Now, Primary Wave has administration services at the ready in-house. It now also owns Kobalt’s AMRA, the global music collection organization that collects mechanical and performance royalties directly from digital services providers, which could help Primary Wave cut down on fees paid to local societies and subpublishers.


Billboard VIP Pass