Frank Zappa family sells estate to Universal

completemusicupdate.com:

Universal Music has signed an agreement with the children of Frank Zappa – Moon, Dweezil, Ahmet and Diva, collectively The Zappa Trust – to acquire the late musician’s estate.

The deal covers Zappa’s recordings and publishing catalogue, name and likeness rights, film archive and all of his unreleased material.

Which, I think the science will prove, is quite a lot.“Ten years ago, [Zappa’s late wife] Gail Zappa partnered with [Universal Music Enterprises] to bring Frank Zappa’s music into the digital era and help expand the Frank Zappa business around the world, setting in motion a fruitful partnership that has resulted in exponential growth”, reads a statement from the Zappa Trust.“Together over the last decade”, it adds, “we made Frank’s vast catalogue of music available for streaming and download, reissued many of his pivotal albums on vinyl, created a slew of exciting archival releases and expansive box sets, including a series celebrating FZ’s legendary Halloween concerts, and were nominated for a Grammy for the ‘200 Motels (The Suites)’ orchestral album”.“UMG have more than proven their passion for Frank’s art and so the entire Zappa family – Moon, Dweezil, Ahmet and Diva – is THRILLED to pass the baton to the new forever stewards for all things Frank Zappa”, it goes on. “Old and new fans will get more of what they want – more Frank Zappa music for years to come”.Noting that Zappa’s first ever album with The Mothers Of Invention – 1966’s ‘Freak Out!’ – was released by Verve Records, which is now part of the Universal Music Group, the statement concludes: “So this is a very full circle moment more than five decades later and we know that his music and legacy will be in the best possible hands for generations to.