Corbis Entertainment to Represent Personality Rights of Acclaimed Singer Marvin Gaye

Corbis Entertainment, a global end-to-end solution for brands and agencies to build groundbreaking, results-driven programs in partnership with Hollywood content, celebrities, music and sports, today announced that it has been selected to represent the personality rights of world-renowned musician, singer and writer, Marvin Gaye, known as the "Prince of Soul."

Corbis Entertainment will be the exclusive third party licensor to Marvin Gaye's personality rights and trademarks, including his name, image, likeness, signatures and characterizations used in advertising, promotions and merchandising.

"Marvin Gaye time and time again brought his vision, range and artistry to the world stage. He paved the way for other legendary artists like Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson and beyond, and his albums garnered widespread critical acclaim," said Lisa Soboslai, VP of Content for Corbis Entertainment's rights representation business. "We are honored to have the opportunity to expand his legacy and continue highlighting his artistic achievements."

Gaye effortlessly blended the sacred and the sensual, messages of protest with R&B, Gospel and Pop sounds interwoven in a way that set the stage for nearly every genre of musician to come. Drawing on the rich and very personal traditions within the churches of the American South, where he first learned to sing and play the organ, Gaye later became known as the 'Prince of Soul' over a 26 year career as a premier vocalist, composer, producer and performer, that tracked and set the spirit of the times, transcending decades, through his often controversial musical statements.

His career moved skillfully from the pop music of the 60's to the politically-charged compositions of the early 70's and finally on to entirely different messages of the sensual, sultry and sexual songs such as "Let's Get It On," "I Want You" and his two-time Grammy award winning, "Sexual Healing." His album, "What's Going On," is regarded as one of the greatest albums of the 20th century and paved the way for many artists to express their own socio-political feelings. Gaye died tragically in 1984, at the age of 44 but left a legacy of timeless music and a message of peace that will remain forever relevant.

The addition of Marvin Gaye expands Corbis Entertainment's roster of iconic personalities to sixteen. Gaye joins iconic personas including Albert Einstein, Steve McQueen, Bruce Lee, Thomas Edison, Muhammad Ali, Sophia Loren and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"We, as a family, try to imagine what Marvin would have wanted and we believe that partnering with Corbis Entertainment would appeal to him on many levels. We also believe that the professionalism and attention to detail that Corbis exhibits would have sealed the deal for him," said Jan Gaye, Marvin Gaye's ex wife. "He would want to be in the company of the other great individuals who are already on the roster. Marvin prided himself with not settling for less and associating with the best. With Corbis, we know he will continue to be well represented in all aspects of his life."

In addition to representing iconic personalities, Corbis Entertainment also handles talent negotiation, helping marketers to broker endorsement deals with athletes, actors, musicians and other celebrities for their participation in advertising and marketing activities. Corbis Entertainment licenses personality rights to companies in categories including financial services, automotive, technology, apparel, social expression, health and beauty, home furnishings and toys for use in advertising, promotions and merchandise. Corbis Entertainment specializes in disciplined, high quality promotional and product licensing to build brand and trademark equity over the long term and currently serves clients in more than 50 countries.

To learn more about Marvin Gaye, visit Corbis Entertainment: corbisentertainment.com/case-study/marvin-gaye.

About Corbis Entertainment: Corbis Entertainment, a division of Corbis, is a leading digital content and worldwide entertainment rights company. We empower agencies, brands, publishers, and other media producers to capture the attention of audiences worldwide by integrating premium and timely content into their communications. From rights clearances and celebrity rights representation, to product and media integration services via the Branded Entertainment Network (BEN), Corbis Entertainment helps elevate projects, amplify brands, and captivate any audience.

About Corbis: Founded in 1989 by Bill Gates, Corbis has rapidly evolved from an image licensing business into a content marketing group that enables brands and publishers to build closer relationships with their customers through premium image, entertainment and digital influencer content. Corbis offers its clients unrivaled access to still and motion imagery, breaking news and entertainment rights as well as BEN, the world's first online marketplace for brand integration across Film, TV, music, talent and digital influencers.

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