Reservoir Acquires Miles Davis Catalog Ahead of Jazz Icon’s 100th Birthday

Reservoir Media has acquired the publishing catalog and recorded music rights of iconic jazz trumpeter and composer Miles Davis, marking a significant expansion of its portfolio ahead of Davis’ centennial in 2026. The deal also includes a partnership with the Miles Davis Estate to explore opportunities involving Davis’ name and likeness. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The estate, managed by Davis’ daughter Cheryl, son Erin, nephew Vincent Wilburn Jr., general manager Darryl Porter, and attorney Jeff Biederman, will collaborate with Reservoir on a wide-ranging celebration of Davis’ 100th birthday.

“We are so pleased to begin this new chapter of Miles’ legacy,” said Erin Davis, while Wilburn Jr. commented that “this partnership gives us the chance to elevate his legacy in new ways, and to ensure that his influence continues to inspire.”

Planned centennial activations include a feature film titled Miles & Juliette, chronicling Davis’ romance with Juliette Greco, developed with River Road Entertainment and Mick Jagger’s Jagged Films. Additionally, a live international symphonic show will pair Davis’ music with original orchestrations and archival footage, and finally the M.E.B. (formerly Miles Electric Band) will embark on an international tour, including a run at SFJazz in March. These events build on the estate’s recent successes, such as the Emmy-winning documentary Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool and the traveling exhibition We Want Miles.

One of the most influential musicians of any genre of any time, Davis’ dizzying career spanned five decades, during which he released over 60 studio albums and collaborated with numerous fellow icons, including John Coltrane, Bill Evans and Wayne Shorter. The Alton, Illinois native was known for constantly reinventing his sound and many of his landmark albums represent pristine encapsulations of several jazz styles, including cool jazz (Birth of the Cool, 1957), modal jazz (Kind of Blue, 1959), third stream (Sketches of Spain, 1959), post-bop (Miles Smiles, 1967) and fusion (Bitches Brew, 1970).

Kind of Blue is considered his crowning achievement and remains the best-selling jazz album of all time, event ranking No. 12 on Rolling Stone’s list of “The Greatest Albums of All Time.”

Reservoir founder and CEO Golnar Khosrowshahi said, “Miles Davis is one of the most influential musicians of all time, and it is an incredible honor that his catalog has found a home at Reservoir.” She added, “This moment is also a recognition of Reservoir’s proven commitment and capability to preserve legacies and reignite discovery of legendary artists on modern platforms, like streaming and social media. As we head into his centennial year, we look forward to showcasing Miles’ brilliance to new audiences, ensuring his music continues to be heard and celebrated worldwide.”

Reservoir Media’s acquisition aligns with its broader growth strategy. In its most recent quarterly earnings, Reservoir reported an 8% revenue increase to $37.2 million, driven by a 4% rise in publishing revenue and a 48% surge in sync revenue. The company also partnered with Fool’s Gold Records to acquire master rights and manage distribution, and invested in London-based immersive entertainment firm Lightroom, which creates experiences around music IP.