NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess) – Primary Wave Music, a leading independent publisher of iconic music, has announced a partnership with the legendary group Village People. This deal covers the Village People brand, the group’s master recordings, and publishing assets. Village People, founded in 1977, achieved worldwide success, selling over 100 million records and becoming iconic in the music industry.
The partnership includes some of Village People’s biggest hits, such as their classic No. 1, “YMCA,” released in 1978. The song succeeded globally, reaching No. 1 in the UK and No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2020, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry. Other hits included in the partnership are “Macho Man,” “In The Navy,” and “Go West.”
Jonathan and Anthony Belolo, who lead Village People, expressed their excitement about the collaboration, stating, “Our partnership with the amazing team at Primary Wave now brings us the backup and expertise that will ensure we can rise to the task together. With multiple projects in development, the future looks bright as ever for the Village People!”
Lexi Todd, Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs at Primary Wave Music, highlighted the joy Village People has brought to listeners worldwide. She stated, “We look forward to working alongside Jonathan and Anthony to reinvigorate the Village People brand.”
The current Village People lineup includes Victor Willis, Angel Morales, James Kwong, Chad Freeman, James Lee, and James J.J. Lippold. The partnership with Primary Wave Music aims to continue the legacy of Village People and explore new opportunities in the evolving music landscape.
