Primary Wave Acquires Artist Royalties of The Cars, Including Mega-Hits Like ‘Just What I Needed’ and ‘You Might Think’

Primary Wave Music announces a royalty deal with The Cars. This deal comes less than a year after partnering with the Estate of Ric Ocasek on his publishing catalog.

Independent publisher Primary Wave Music has announced their partnership with The Cars. Terms of the deal will see the publisher acquire the band’s artist royalties. It comes less than a year after Primary Wave partnered with the Estate of Ric Ocasek on his music publishing catalog—including all songs from his time with The Cars.

Included in the deal are some of The Cars’ biggest hits, such as “Just What I Needed,” “You Might Think,” “My Best Friend’s Girl,” “Drive,” and many more. Released in 1984, “Drive” was the band’s highest charting single, soaring to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 on release. The song topped the Adult Contemporary chart and went on to be nominated for a Grammy in the category “Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.”

“Together with last year’s partnership for Ric Ocasek’s publishing, Primary Wave is uniquely positioned to preserve and honor the legacy of The Cars,” says Samantha Rhulen, SVP of Business and Legal Affairs at Primary Wave. “Their music has left a lasting imprint on culture and continues to inspire fans and musicians around the world. It’s a privilege to be entrusted with this partnership.”

The Cars formed in Boston in 1976, fronted by singer, songwriter, and rhythm guitarist Ric Ocasek, bassist and vocalist Benjamin Orr, lead guitarist Elliot Easton, keyboardist Greg Hawkes, and drummer David Robinson. Combining elements of new wave, rock, and pop, The Cars quickly became one of the most influential and successful bands during this time. Their music was characterized by catchy hooks, sleek production, and a blend of synthesizers and guitar-driven rock.

The Cars reached the height of their popularity with Heartbeat City in 1984, an album that produced several major hits, including “Drive,” “You Might Think,” and “Magic.” The album was also recognized for its innovative music videos, particularly for “You Might Think,” which won the first-ever MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year. During this time, The Cars became one of the biggest bands in the world, selling millions of albums and filling arenas with energetic live performances.

The band’s legacy was officially recognized when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Their music continues to influence new generations of artists, and their blend of rock, new wave, and pop remains a staple of classic rock radio.