Iconic Acquires Nat King Cole Assets
• The family of the legendary Nat King Cole has entered into an agreement with Irving Azoff’s Iconic Artists Group (Iconic) to manage, protect, preserve, and expand Nat King Cole’s groundbreaking legacy to new generations. The deal encompasses a broad range of rights from Cole’s legendary career including his recorded music, publishing, television shows, and name and likeness.
Cole’s mass appeal transcends the boundaries of race, age, gender, and musical genres, which drove the success of more than 150 singles across Billboard’s pop, R&B, and country charts. His loyal and diverse fanbase fueled the sale of more than 50 million records worldwide. A renowned singer and jazz pianist, Cole is remembered for countless iconic classics, including “The Very Thought of You,” “Straighten Up and Fly Right,” “Unforgettable,” “Nature Boy,” “Stardust,” “When I Fall In Love,” “Mona Lisa,” “L-O-V-E,” and the holiday staple, The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire),” certified six-time platinum by the RIAA. Cole was posthumously honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from NARAS and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In a joint statement, Cole’s surviving children, twin daughters Timolin and Casey Cole, said, “We’re delighted to entrust our father’s legacy to Irving Azoff and the team at Iconic. Through the years, it’s been amazing to see how dad’s music continues to inspire and bring people together, and with Iconic at the helm, we know his musical legacy will endure and continue to grow.”
“We are thrilled that Nat King Cole’s family is trusting us with his musical legacy,” said Irving Azoff, Chairman & CEO of The Azoff Company. “He was a groundbreaking artist that influenced generations of artists that followed him. One of our true greats — his voice is instantly recognizable and an enduring piece of the fabric of our lives.”
Jimmy Edwards, President of Iconic, remarked, “Nat King Cole is undoubtedly one of the most popular and influential entertainers of all time, a true trailblazer, both musically and culturally. Iconic is proud to be the new home of Nat King Cole and we look forward to working closely with his family as well as Universal Music Group and his label, Capitol Records to ensure that his incomparable talent continues to be celebrated around the world.”
