MUMBAI: Warner Music Group Corp and the family of Frank Sinatra have established a worldwide partnership to integrate content, rights management and the preservation of the legendary entertainer’s inspirational personality and prodigious body of work under a single entity.
The partnership will operate under the name Frank Sinatra Enterprises (FSE) and will manage all aspects of Sinatra’s artistic contribution to music, film and stage. FSE will also administer all licenses for the use of Sinatra’s name and likeness.
FSE will own Sinatra’s recordings from the Reprise era as well as a treasure trove of films, television specials and unreleased footage, photos and audio recordings, which collectively represent one of the foremost bodies of artistic work of the modern era. FSE will also own and manage Sinatra’s name and likeness rights and will represent the artist’s rights to the
FSE intends to pursue innovative new product and venture opportunities with respect to the legendary entertainer’s name and likeness, as well as for the audio and visual content, which it will administer.
The Sinatra family, represented by Nancy, Tina and Frank Sinatra, Jr. stated, “Because it was most important to our family to preserve and honor his legacy, we were extremely selective in choosing a partner with whom to manage our father’s life work. It was a process that took several years. Our father founded Reprise Records almost 50 years ago; we have worked with Warner Music Group for many years, and we are thrilled to continue the journey with them and the new company into the future.”
Warner Music Group., Chairman and CEO, Edgar Bronfman, Jr. added, “Frank Sinatra created one of the most enduring and influential bodies of work the world has ever experienced and we consider it a great privilege that his family has decided to significantly expand and enhance our relationship. Over the past several years WMG has transformed itself from a traditional music company to an organization that can manage virtually every facet of an artist’s brand or career. So it is a particular honor that through this joint venture we’ll be able to manage, with the Sinatra family, the legacy of not only one our greatest artists, but as founder of Reprise Records, one of the creative cornerstones of our company.”
“Frank Sinatra is an icon known the world over. We are extremely honored to continue working with the Sinatra family to preserve and expand his rich legacy,” said Warner Music Group’s Rhino Entertainment, president, Scott Pascucci.
Representatives from the Sinatra family and Warner Music Group will jointly manage FSE, with day-to-day operations being handled by Rhino executives Jimmy Edwards and Gregg Goldman along with Sinatra archivist/producer Charles Pignone, who will report to co-chairs Scott Pascucci and Robert A. Finkelstein. Additionally, Tina Sinatra and Edgar Bronfman, Jr. will sit on the Board of Directors.
