Primary Wave Partners with a Jazz Icon
One of my favorite artists all all time “Are You Going with Me” etc is this man and he’s still going strong.
Primary Wave Music just added a heavyweight to its roster. The company announced a partnership with guitar innovator, composer, and bandleader Pat Metheny. The deal covers both his publishing and recordings — a rare move that puts nearly 50 years of Metheny’s work under one roof.
Uniquity Music: Metheny’s New Label
The agreement also opens a new chapter for Metheny with the launch of his own label, Uniquity Music, in partnership with Green Hill Music, part of Sun Label Group.
His upcoming Side-Eye project will be the first release under the new label in 2026, supported by a full global tour. Metheny describes Side-Eye as “an ongoing setting to feature a rotating cast of new and upcoming musicians who have particularly caught my interest along the way.”
Decades of Mastery and Milestones
Metheny’s catalog is as deep as it gets. Over 50 studio albums. Twenty million records sold. And 20 Grammy Awards — from ten different categories — making him the only artist in history to do it.
His hits include “Last Train Home,” “Always & Forever,” “Bright Size Life,” and “Better Days Ahead,” pulled from genre-defining albums like Still Life (Talking), Letter From Home, and Secret Story.
Honors and Recognition Across the Globe
He’s also stacked with honors. Metheny was inducted into the DownBeat Hall of Fame in 2015, joining Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian, and Wes Montgomery — and he’s the youngest member.
In 2018, he became an NEA Jazz Master, the nation’s highest jazz honor, and remains one of the few jazz musicians ever inducted into the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. Back home, Missouri recognized him with a spot in its own Hall of Fame.
A Vision Becomes Reality
For Metheny, this deal hits different. “My dream for years has been to have a place where all of my work, past and future, could live under a single umbrella,” he said.
“That dream has now become a reality. I feel like I’m just beginning, and this next period will represent the best of where music has led me so far. I’m thrilled to launch this new era with the great folks at Primary Wave.”
Primary Wave on Partnering with Metheny
Dominic Pandiscia, Chief Strategy Officer at Primary Wave, echoed the sentiment: “Pat Metheny is one of the all-time great composers and musicians, irrespective of genre. It’s an absolute privilege to partner with him — not only to honor his body of work but to support his future creative pursuits.”
From Missouri to the World Stage
Metheny’s story started in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, where he first picked up the trumpet at eight before switching to guitar at twelve.
By fifteen, he was already performing with Kansas City’s top jazz players. His early professional years included a stint with vibraphonist Gary Burton, where he developed a horn-like articulation that reshaped how jazz guitar was played.
Redefining the Sound of Jazz Guitar
His 1975 debut Bright Size Life changed the sound of the instrument for good.
Since then, Metheny’s been impossible to pin down — collaborating with everyone from Steve Reich and Ornette Coleman to Herbie Hancock, Jim Hall, Milton Nascimento, and even David Bowie.
The Educator and the Performer
Beyond performing, Metheny’s made an impact as an educator. He became the youngest instructor in history at both the University of Miami and Berklee College of Music, later earning honorary doctorates from each.
Still Touring, Still Pushing Forward
Half a century in, Metheny still tours relentlessly — more than 200 solo shows in recent years — proving that even after five decades, he’s still finding new ways to move the music forward.