The Isley Brothers are an American family musical group originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, that began as a vocal trio consisting of brothers O’Kelly “Kelly” Isley Jr., Rudolph Isley, and Ronald Isley in the late 1950s.
Who owns the rights to the Isley Brothers’ songs?
In the case of the Isleys, Rudolph claims that since the 1986 death of their third brother O’Kelly Isley, he and Ronald have been the equal co-owners of the group’s intellectual property.
Who owns The Isley Brothers Catalogue?
The Isley Brothers have a long history of trying to maintain control of their work. In 1964, they formed their own label, T-Neck Records, and Ronald Isley handled all of his own business dealings.
To securitize the catalog, Pullman paid the Isleys — Ronald, Rudolph Isley, and the estate of the late O’Kelly Isley — $30 million upfront against future royalties on the group’s music. Investors can buy the bonds and earn interest on them, while the Isleys themselves maintain the original copyrights to the music they wrote.