Q Prime
{{Short description|New York-based music management company}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Q Prime Inc.
| logo =
| type = Private
| industry = Music industry
| foundation = {{Start date|1982|4|1}}
| founders = Cliff Burnstein, Peter Mensch
| location_city = New York City
| location_country = United States
| area_served = Worldwide
| num_employees = 40 (as of 2018)
| divisions = {{ubl
| Q Prime
| Q Prime UK
| Q Prime South
| Q Prime AF
}}
| homepage = {{URL|qprime.com}}
}}
Q Prime Inc. (Q Prime) is an American music management company founded in 1982 by Cliff Burnstein and Peter Mensch. The company represents rock, country, and folk artists including Metallica, Cage The Elephant, Eric Church, and Gillian Welch. It previously managed notable rock and pop acts such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Def Leppard, The Black Keys, and Madonna.
Headquartered in New York City, Q Prime operates four divisions and maintains offices in London, Los Angeles, and Nashville. The company provides full-service, artist-owned labels for several of its artists, alongside digital, radio promotion, marketing, publicity, and touring departments.
History
=Partnership before founding (pre–1982)=
Q Prime founders Cliff Burnstein and Peter Mensch first met in 1973, when Burnstein—then working as a Chicago-based radio promoter at Mercury Records—cold-called Mensch, who was the program director at Brandeis University's WBRS radio station.{{cite book |last1=Farr |first1=Jory |title=Moguls and madmen: the pursuit of power in popular music |date=1994 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |location=New York, NY |isbn=0671739468 |page=248 |language=en}} While Burnstein initially reached out to promote artists such as Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Thin Lizzy, and New York Dolls, the conversation shifted to their shared taste in music. Months later, in 1974, a college radio conference brought Burnstein to Boston and the pair met in person for the first time. The two connected over bands like Spooky Tooth, The Move, and Procol Harum.{{cite web |title=BURNSTEIN & MENSCH, PT 1: THE HARD, ROCKY ROAD THAT LED TO Q PRIME |url=https://www.hitsdailydouble.com/news/rumor-mill/burnstein-and-mensch-pt-1-the-hard-rocky-road-that-led-to-q-prime |website=Hits Daily Double |access-date=June 15, 2025 |language=en |date=November 17, 2016 |url-status=live}}
By 1977, Burnstein had started a punk rock label under Mercury called Blank Records. He hired Mensch as its general manager after Mensch finished his master's in marketing at the University of Chicago. There, the pair signed and worked with Cleveland rock band Pere Ubu. In April 1978, Mensch accepted a position with Aerosmith's management company, Leber-Krebs. Mensch worked as Aerosmith's tour accountant on the Draw the Line Tour, where he first met opening act AC/DC. Shortly after the tour ended in March 1979, Mensch began to manage AC/DC and became a partner at Leber-Krebs.
By this time, Burnstein had shifted from promotions to A&R at Mercury, where he signed Rush to their first American deal. In 1979, Burnstein signed Scorpions and Def Leppard to the label, who both went with Mensch at Leber-Krebs for management.{{cite book |last1=Farr |first1=Jory |title=Moguls and madmen: the pursuit of power in popular music |date=1994 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |location=New York, NY |isbn=0671739468 |pages=250–253 |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Elliottpublished |first=Paul |date=2023-09-24 |title="I said to my mates, 'Can you believe this record is going to come out on the same label as Thin Lizzy?'": the unlikely birth of Def Leppard and the story of their debut album On Through The Night |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/def-leppard-on-through-the-night-story-behind-album |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=Louder |language=en}} Burnstein recalled finding life at Mercury difficult, as the company did not adequately promote Rush's early albums. Burnstein said of the experience, "When you’re at a label, you’re torn. You go out and sign a band you think are the greatest, you find a producer and choose the songs, do the sequencing and get the artwork [...] and then the head of marketing says, 'We don't have room to promote that this year.'"{{cite web |last1=Aswad |first1=Jem |date=29 March 2016 |title=Q Prime's Burnstein And Mensch On Managing Metallica And Jimmy Page, Playing The Label Game, And Staying On Top For 33 Years |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/q-prime-cliff-burnstein-peter-mensch-managing-metallica-33-years-7290324/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240319092319/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/q-prime-cliff-burnstein-peter-mensch-managing-metallica-33-years-7290324 |archive-date=March 19, 2024 |access-date=15 June 2025 |website=Billboard |language=en}}
In February 1980, Burnstein left Mercury to join Mensch at Leber-Krebs, later describing his shift to management as choosing the "side of the angels." At Leber-Krebs, the pair managed AC/DC during their successful Back in Black era. The album sold over 50 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling rock album in history.{{cite web |last1=Ma |first1=Kai |title=Heavy Metal Under the Sea: Sharks Act Calmer When Listening to AC/DC |url=https://newsfeed.time.com/2011/06/06/heavy-metal-under-the-sea-sharks-act-calmer-when-listening-to-acdc/ |website=Time |access-date=16 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250421004357/https://newsfeed.time.com/2011/06/06/heavy-metal-under-the-sea-sharks-act-calmer-when-listening-to-acdc |archive-date=April 21, 2025 |language=en |date=6 June 2011 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=McNamee |first1=Gregory |title=AC/DC, "Back in Black" (Great Moments in Pop Music History) |url=https://www.britannica.com/blogs/2010/08/acdc-back-in-black-great-moments-in-pop-music-history/ |website=Britannica |access-date=16 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821051008/https://www.britannica.com/blogs/2010/08/acdc-back-in-black-great-moments-in-pop-music-history |archive-date=August 21, 2014 |language=en |date=August 24, 2010 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |last1=Ó Caollaí |first1=Éanna |title=AC/DC back catalogue goes digital |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ac-dc-back-catalogue-goes-digital-1.749607 |website=The Irish Times |access-date=16 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618021545/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ac-dc-back-catalogue-goes-digital-1.749607 |archive-date=June 18, 2013 |language=en |date=November 19, 2012 |url-status=live}} During this time, the pair also managed Scorpions, Michael Schenker Group, and Def Leppard. Burnstein and Mensch's work at Leber-Krebs ended in early-1982.{{cite web |title=BURNSTEIN & MENSCH, PT. 2: THE HARD, ROCKY ROAD THAT LED TO Q PRIME |url=https://www.hitsdailydouble.com/news/rumor-mill/burnstein-and-mensch-pt-2-the-hard-rocky-road-that-led-to-q-prime |website=Hits Daily Double |access-date=15 June 2025 |language=en |date=November 18, 2016 |url-status=live}}{{cite book |last1=Farr |first1=Jory |title=Moguls and madmen: the pursuit of power in popular music |date=1994 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |location=New York, NY |isbn=0671739468 |page=254 |language=en}}
=Founding and early years (1982–1989)=
Burnstein and Mensch established Q Prime on April 1, 1982, following their departures from Leber-Krebs. The company initially had no other employees, and was run out of Burnstein's apartment in New York and Mensch's apartment in London. Def Leppard was their first client. The band's 1981 album High 'n' Dry saw increased popularity in the United States following regular rotation of its videos on MTV.{{Cite web |last=Wall |first=Mick |date=2024-12-23 |title="Too big for our boots? We were a bunch of kids destined for factory life. We were not going to screw this up": The tempestuous story of Def Leppard's High 'N' Dry, the album that turned them into US stars |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/def-leppard-high-dry-story-behind-album |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=Louder |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Friedlander |first=Matt |date=July 9, 2021 |title=Def Leppard's sophomore album, 'High 'n' Dry,' celebrates its 40th anniversary this weekend |url=https://digital.abcaudio.com/news/def-leppards-sophomore-album-high-n-dry-celebrates-its-40th-anniversary-weekend |url-status=live |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=ABC Audio}} In 1983, a year after Q Prime was founded, the company achieved its first significant success with Def Leppard's album Pyromania, which sold over 10 million copies in the U.S.{{Cite web |last=Chiu |first=David |title=Def Leppard's Joe Elliott On The Legacy Of 'Pyromania' 40 Years Later |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidchiu/2024/05/01/def-leppards-joe-elliott-on-the-legacy-of-pyromania-40-years-later/ |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=Forbes |language=en}}
In 1984, Q Prime began managing Metallica.{{cite book |last1=Farr |first1=Jory |title=Moguls and madmen: the pursuit of power in popular music |date=1994 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |isbn=0671739468 |location=New York, NY |page=255 |language=en}} After first hearing about the band, Burnstein and Mensch were at Shades, a hard rock record store in London, when they saw multiple kids wearing Metallica t-shirts. The band were set to release their record Ride the Lightning through indie label Megaforce. After meeting with the band, Q Prime took over their management contract and negotiated a major label deal with Elektra Records.{{Cite web |title=MTV.com - On-Air - Icon - Metallica |url=http://www.mtv.com/onair/icon/metallica/timeline/?id=6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217130123/http://www.mtv.com/onair/icon/metallica/timeline/?id=6 |archive-date=2007-12-17 |access-date=2025-06-16 |website=www.mtv.com}}{{cite journal|first=Sue|last=Cummings|title=Road Warriors|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6_7o2bblz_cC&q=master+of+puppets+recording&pg=PA61|journal=Spin|volume=2|issue=5|pages=59–61|date=August 1986|access-date=July 26, 2013|archive-date=September 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240916120628/https://books.google.com/books?id=6_7o2bblz_cC&q=master+of+puppets+recording&pg=PA61#v=onepage&q=master%20of%20puppets%20recording&f=false|url-status=live}} The following year, the band's partnership with Q Prime and Elektra resulted in the album Master of Puppets, widely regarded as one of the most influential metal albums of all time.{{Cite web |last=Christopher R. |first=Weingarten |last2=Beaujour |first2=Tom |display-authors=1 |date=2017-06-21 |title=The 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/the-100-greatest-metal-albums-of-all-time-113614/ |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth |date=2011-03-18 |title=METALLICA's 'Master Of Puppets' Is 'Top Metal Song Of All Time' |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/metallica-s-master-of-puppets-is-top-metal-song-of-all-time/ |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Stone |first=Rolling |date=2009-05-31 |title=500 Greatest Albums of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-156826/ |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} In 2016, Master of Puppets became the first heavy metal album added to the U.S. Library of Congress.{{Cite news |date=2016-03-23 |title=Metallica album the first metal recording in US historical registry |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-24/metallica-first-metal-recording-historic-us-library-of-congress/7272924 |access-date=2025-06-16 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}
In 1989, Burnstein and Mensch were hired by The Rolling Stones to consult on the band's Steel Wheels album and tour.{{cite web |last1=Smirke |first1=Richard |title=Q Prime's Peter Mensch Talks Metallica, the AEG-MSG Turf War & Helping Reunite Led Zeppelin |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/peter-mensch-metalica-aeg-msg-led-zeppelin-madonna-stones-interview/ |website=Billboard |access-date=15 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240925142047/https://www.billboard.com/pro/peter-mensch-metalica-aeg-msg-led-zeppelin-madonna-stones-interview |archive-date=September 25, 2024 |language=en |date=14 March 2018 |url-status=live}} As creative consultants, Mensch and Burnstein advised on the order of the album's singles, the live show set list, and various aspects of the record.{{cite book |last1=Farr |first1=Jory |title=Moguls and madmen: the pursuit of power in popular music |date=1994 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |location=New York, NY |isbn=0671739468 |pages=259–260 |language=en}}
=Roster growth and diversification (1990–1999)=
By 1994, Q Prime had taken on Veruca Salt, Hole, and Bruce Hornsby as management clients—its first in the alternative rock and adult pop genres. Under Q Prime's guidance, Hole embarked on the Live Through This Tour, with Veruca Salt as support. The tour reached 14 countries and generated over $15 million in ticket sales.{{cite web |title=A steady beat |url=https://www.forbes.com/forbes/1998/0518/6110066a.html |website=Forbes |access-date=15 June 2025 |language=en |date=May 18, 1998 |url-status=live}}
In October 1995, Q Prime began managing The Smashing Pumpkins. The band joined the roster the night before the release of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.{{cite web |last1=Boehlert |first1=Eric |title=Smashing Pumpkins Drop Management Team |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/smashing-pumpkins-drop-management-team-82220 |website=Rolling Stone |access-date=15 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922054516/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/smashing-pumpkins-drop-management-team-82220 |archive-date=September 22, 2021 |language=en |date=13 November 1998 |url-status=live}} The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 list, and received seven Grammy Award nominations, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year.{{cite web |title=Smashing Pumpkins Grammy Profile |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/smashing-pumpkins/8392 |website=Grammy Awards |access-date=15 June 2025}}{{cite web |title=The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-smashing-pumpkins/chart-history/tlp/ |website=Billboard |access-date=15 June 2025 |language=en |url-status=live}} The Smashing Pumpkins and Q Prime parted ways in November 1998.
Between fall 1997 and 1999, Q Prime co-managed Madonna's music career with Caresse Henry.{{cite web |author=Billboard Staff|title=Madonna, Manager Part Ways |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/madonna-manager-part-ways-1424975 |website=Billboard |access-date=15 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250220090957/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/madonna-manager-part-ways-1424975 |archive-date=February 20, 2025 |language=en |date=16 November 2004 |url-status=live}} Burnstein and Mensch were hired ahead of Madonna's Ray of Light album. According to Mensch, Q Prime pushed for Madonna to choose "Frozen" over "Ray of Light" as the lead single, a decision she later acknowledged as the right one. The record sold over 15 million copies.{{cite web |last1=Elsen |first1=Jon |title=MICHAEL OVITZ PLAYS BUSINESS OVERTURE FOR MADONNA; EXCLUSIVE |url=https://nypost.com/1999/04/21/michael-ovitz-plays-business-overture-for-madonna-exclusive |website=New York Post |access-date=15 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240411203132/https://nypost.com/1999/04/21/michael-ovitz-plays-business-overture-for-madonna-exclusive |archive-date=April 11, 2024 |language=en |date=21 April 1999 |url-status=live}}
Together with Clive Calder's Jive Records, Q Prime formed a joint venture in April 1998 called Volcano Records after purchasing a 50 percent stake in the company.{{cite web |last1=Sandler |first1=Adam |title=Q-Prime buys into Volcano |url=https://variety.com/1998/music/news/q-prime-buys-into-volcano-1117469649/ |website=Variety |access-date=15 June 2025 |language=en |date=9 April 1998 |url-status=live}} The label was host to Tool, 311, and "Weird Al" Yankovic. Q Prime sold their share of the company in November 2002.{{cite web |title=Peter Mensch Biography |url=https://www.kennedy-center.org/artists/m/ma-mn/peter-mensch/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 June 2025 |website=The Kennedy Center |language=en}}{{cite web |agency=Associated Press |title=Bertelsmann Completes Deal for Zomba |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/27/business/bertelsmann-completes-deal-for-zomba.html |website=New York Times |access-date=15 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226184445/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/27/business/bertelsmann-completes-deal-for-zomba.html |archive-date=February 26, 2021 |language=en |url-status=live}}
In fall 1998, Q Prime began managing the Los Angeles-based Red Hot Chili Peppers.{{cite web |last1=Cromelin |first1=Richard |title=Just Water Under the Bridge |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jun-13-ca-45919-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=15 June 2025 |language=en |date=13 June 1999 |url-status=live}} Over the course of their more than 20 year management relationship, the band released five studio albums: Californication (1999), By the Way (2002), Stadium Arcadium (2006), I'm with You (2011), and The Getaway (2016).{{cite web |title=Red Hot Chili Peppers Discography |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/92476-Red-Hot-Chili-Peppers |website=Discogs |access-date=15 June 2025 |language=en |url-status=live}} These albums earned the band a combined eight Grammy Award nominations and two wins, including Best Rock Album for Stadium Arcadium.{{cite web |title=Red Hot Chili Peppers Grammy profile |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/red-hot-chili-peppers/16367 |website=Grammy Awards |access-date=15 June 2025 |language=en |url-status=live}} In 2012, the Red Hot Chili Peppers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Chris Rock.{{cite web |title=Red Hot Chili Peppers - R&RHF |url=https://rockhall.com/inductees/red-hot-chili-peppers/ |website=Rock & Roll Hall of Fame |access-date=15 June 2025 |language=en |url-status=live}} In 2019, the band performed in front of Egypt's pyramids of Giza to more than 10,000 attendees, with more watching via live stream.{{Cite news |last=Awadalla |first=Nadine |date=2019-03-15 |title=Red Hot Chili Peppers rock Egypt's pyramids |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyle/red-hot-chili-peppers-rock-egypts-pyramids-idUSKCN1QW2R2/ |access-date=2025-06-16 |work=Reuters |language=en-US}}
=Expansion to Q Prime South and UK (2000–2009)=
Q Prime's first expansion came in 2001, when it launched Q Prime South with Nickel Creek manager John Peets. Based in Nashville, Q Prime South manages artists such as Eric Church, Brothers Osborne, and Ashley McBryde.{{cite web |title=THE MANAGERS: Q PRIME'S DYNAMIC DUO |url=https://www.hitsdailydouble.com/news/business/the-managers-q-prime-burnstein-mensch-2025-05-05 |website=www.hitsdailydouble.com |access-date=15 June 2025 |language=en |date=May 6, 2025 |url-status=live}}
In 2002, Q Prime began managing Shania Twain ahead of her Up! album. Twain performed at the 2003 Super Bowl halftime show.{{cite web |last1=Rice |first1=Nicholas |title=Shania Twain Looks Back at Her 'Massive' 2003 Super Bowl Halftime Performance and Why She Felt 'Quite Numb' (Exclusive) |url=https://people.com/shania-twain-looks-back-at-2003-super-bowl-halftime-performance-exclusive-8787439 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250328003158/https://people.com/shania-twain-looks-back-at-2003-super-bowl-halftime-performance-exclusive-8787439 |archive-date=March 28, 2025 |access-date=15 June 2025 |website=People |language=en}} On September 23, 2004, the album was certified 11-times platinum.{{cite web |title=Shania Twain - Gold & Platinum Certs |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=shania+twain |website=RIAA |access-date=15 June 2025 |language=en |url-status=live}}
By 2007, both Q Prime South and Q Prime had expanded their rosters further. Q Prime South added Eric Church in 2005 and The Black Keys in 2006, while Q Prime added Silversun Pickups in 2006 and Snow Patrol in 2007.{{cite web |last1=Waddell |first1=Ray |title=Q Prime South Scores Eric Church and the Black Keys |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/q-prime-south-scores-eric-church-and-the-black-keys-1093382/ |website=Billboard |access-date=15 June 2025 |language=en |date=15 June 2012 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Silversun Pickups Discography Under Q Prime |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/1261829-Q-Prime-Inc?searchParam=silversun |website=Discogs |access-date=15 June 2025 |language=en |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Paine |first1=Andre |title=Snow Patrol Signs To Q Prime |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/snow-patrol-signs-to-q-prime-1323729/ |website=Billboard |access-date=15 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530081111/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/snow-patrol-signs-to-q-prime-1323729 |archive-date=May 30, 2023 |language=en |date=10 May 2007 |url-status=live}}
In 2007, Q Prime began managing Jimmy Page and his involvement in Led Zeppelin. The company renegotiated Zeppelin's deal with Warner Music Group, allowing for the release of the band's Mothership greatest hits album in November 2007. One month after the record's release, Q Prime coordinated the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert at London's O2 Arena on December 10, 2007. The show, headlined by Led Zeppelin, was the band's first public appearance in 17 years.{{cite web |author1=NME |title=Led Zeppelin reunion: the review |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/led-zeppelin-143-1310037 |website=NME |access-date=15 June 2025 |language=en |date=10 December 2007 |url-status=live}} Mensch called the show Q Prime's "piece de resistance." It was recorded and released as the film Celebration Day, which came out in 2012 alongside box sets developed by Burnstein and Mensch.
The company's second expansion came in 2007 with the addition of London-based Q Prime UK, which as of June 2025 is run in partnership with manager Steve Matthews. The division manages artists such as Declan McKenna and The Last Dinner Party.{{cite web |last1=Brandle |first1=Lars |title=Q Prime, Aaron Frank Team for New Artist Management Arm Q Prime AF |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/q-prime-aaron-frank-q-prime-af-launch-nashville/ |website=Billboard |access-date=15 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621234909/https://www.billboard.com/pro/q-prime-aaron-frank-q-prime-af-launch-nashville |archive-date=June 21, 2023 |language=en |date=3 May 2023 |url-status=live}}
Q Prime began managing long-term client Cage The Elephant in 2008. While the band first released their self-titled debut album on UK-based Relentless Records, Q Prime arranged for the album's re-release in the United States in March 2009 through RCA/Jive Label Group.{{cite web |last1=Homewood |first1=Ben |title='Matt Shultz is my Mick Jagger': Q Prime's Peter Mensch talks Cage The Elephant and breaking rock acts |url=https://www.musicweek.com/talent/read/matt-shultz-is-my-mick-jagger-q-prime-s-peter-mensch-talks-cage-the-elephant-and-breaking-rock-acts/075894 |website=www.musicweek.com |access-date=15 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241013081053/https://www.musicweek.com/talent/read/matt-shultz-is-my-mick-jagger-q-prime-s-peter-mensch-talks-cage-the-elephant-and-breaking-rock-acts/075894 |archive-date=October 13, 2024 |language=en |date=April 11, 2019 |url-status=live}} Under Q Prime, the band has won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album twice: in 2017 for Tell Me I'm Pretty and in 2020 for Social Cues.{{cite web |title=Cage The Elephant Grammy Award history |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/cage-elephant/18803 |website=Grammy Awards |access-date=15 June 2025}} In 2024, the band released their album Neon Pill, which was nominated for Best Alternative Music Performance at the 2025 Grammys.{{cite web |title=Cage the Elephant Billboard Chart History |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/cage-the-elephant/chart-history/tlp/ |website=Billboard |access-date=15 June 2025 |language=en |url-status=live}}
=New signings and catalog control (2010-2019)=
Q Prime began managing British band Foals in 2010, coinciding with the release of their Mercury Prize-nominated record, Total Life Forever.{{cite web |author1=MusicWeek Staff |title=Peter Mensch: Foals' success proves labels should be patient breaking bands |url=https://www.musicweek.com/management/read/peter-mensch-foals-success-proves-labels-should-be-patient-breaking-bands/085690 |website=MusicWeek |access-date=15 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240424065843/https://www.musicweek.com/management/read/peter-mensch-foals-success-proves-labels-should-be-patient-breaking-bands/085690 |archive-date=April 24, 2024 |language=en |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Mercury Prize Previous Shortlists |url=https://www.mercuryprize.com/previous%20shortlists |website=Mercury Prize |access-date=15 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250315112116/https://www.mercuryprize.com/previous%20shortlists |archive-date=March 15, 2025 |language=en |url-status=live}}
In November 2012, Q Prime negotiated with Elektra Records to enable Metallica to buy back their catalog, gaining control of their masters. Metallica subsequently rereleased their catalog through Q Prime-backed label, Blackened Recordings, distributing their music via Warner's Rhino Entertainment in North America and Universal Music Group internationally.{{cite web |author1=Billboard Staff |title=Metallica Take Ownership of Masters, Launch Blackened Recordings |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/metallica-take-ownership-of-masters-launch-blackened-recordings-1082834/ |website=Billboard |access-date=15 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125190428/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/metallica-take-ownership-of-masters-launch-blackened-recordings-1082834 |archive-date=November 25, 2022 |language=en |date=30 November 2012 |url-status=live}}
In 2015, Q Prime began managing Declan McKenna following his win in the Glastonbury Festival Emerging Talent competition.{{cite web |title=The boy from '˜Brazil' is coming good as Declan McKenna takes charge |url=https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/the-boy-from-brazil-is-coming-good-as-declan-mckenna-takes-charge-1141358 |website=The Portsmouth News |access-date=15 June 2025 |language=en |date=22 March 2017 |url-status=live}} According to Burnstein, McKenna's song "Brazil" had hooked him "from the intro."{{cite web |last1=Rendon |first1=Francisco |title=Declan McKenna Is Humongous And Small - Pollstar News |url=https://news.pollstar.com/2018/05/01/declan-mckenna-is-humongous-and-small/ |website=Pollstar |access-date=15 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240623190050/https://news.pollstar.com/2018/05/01/declan-mckenna-is-humongous-and-small |archive-date=June 23, 2024 |language=en |date=1 May 2018 |url-status=live}}
=Recent history (2020–present)=
Q Prime began managing British baroque pop band The Last Dinner Party in Spring 2022, soon after the band's first show. By May 2022, the band had signed a deal with Island Records.{{cite web |last1=Aniftos |first1=Rania |date=19 September 2023 |title=Chartbreaker: The Last Dinner Party Is 'Not F–king Around' Following Its Debut Hit |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/features/the-last-dinner-party-nothing-matters-interview-september-2023-chartbreaker-1235415311/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527172345/https://www.billboard.com/music/features/the-last-dinner-party-nothing-matters-interview-september-2023-chartbreaker-1235415311/ |archive-date=May 27, 2024 |access-date=15 June 2025 |website=Billboard |language=en}} In 2024, the band won the BRITs Rising Star award, as well as BBC Radio 1's Sound of 2024.{{Cite web |title=The Last Dinner Party win Rising Star! |url=https://brits.co.uk/news/2024/the-last-dinner-party-win-rising-star-1/ |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=brits.co.uk |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Beaumont-Thomas |first=Ben |date=2023-12-07 |title=Indie band the Last Dinner Party win Brit awards' Rising Star category |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/dec/07/indie-band-the-last-dinner-party-win-brit-awards-rising-star-category |access-date=2025-06-17 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite news |date=2024-01-05 |title=The Last Dinner Party win BBC Radio 1's Sound Of 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-67880301 |access-date=2025-06-17 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} The following year, The Last Dinner Party earned Best New Artist at the 2025 BRITs.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Daisy |date=2025-03-01 |title=All The Winners From The 2025 Brit Awards |url=https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/2025-brit-award-winners |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=British Vogue |language=en-GB}}
In July 2022, Q Prime client Metallica's 1986 song "Master of Puppets" made a prominent appearance in the season 4 finale of Stranger Things.{{Cite web |last=Tangcay |first=Jazz |date=2022-07-04 |title=How 'Stranger Things' Landed Metallica's 'Master of Puppets' for Epic Finale (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2022/artisans/news/stranger-things-metallica-master-of-puppets-1235307853/ |access-date=2025-06-16 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} The episode was credited with introducing Metallica to Gen-Z audiences, and following its airing, the song saw an over 650 percent increase in streams.{{Cite web |last=Willman |first=Chris |date=2022-07-08 |title=Metallica's 'Master of Puppets' Sees 650% Streaming Bump in Week Since 'Stranger Things' Climax |url=https://variety.com/2022/music/news/metallica-master-of-puppets-streaming-stranger-things-bump-1235312316/ |access-date=2025-06-16 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Hiatt |first=Brian |date=2022-07-18 |title=The Cult of Eddie Munson, The Metal Side of 'Stranger Things,' and the Real 1980s Satanic Panic |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/eddie-munson-true-story-stranger-things-metallica-master-of-puppets-1384491/ |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} In March of the following year, Q Prime arranged the deal in which Metallica purchased the Furnace Record Pressing Plant in Alexandria, Virginia.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-14 |title=Metallica purchase their own pressing plant after selling tons of vinyl |url=https://consequence.net/2023/03/metallica-vinyl-pressing-plant/ |access-date=2025-06-16 |website=Consequence |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Levine |first=Robert |date=2023-03-14 |title=Metallica Sells So Much Vinyl It Just Bought Its Own Pressing Plant |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/metallica-bought-vinyl-record-pressing-plant/ |access-date=2025-06-16 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}
In May 2023, Q Prime launched a new division, Q Prime AF, in partnership with manager Aaron Frank. Based in Nashville, Frank brought his roster of artists with him, which included Greta Van Fleet and St. Paul and the Broken Bones.{{cite web |last1=Cantrell |first1=L. B. |title=Q Prime Joins Forces With Aaron Frank To Form New Division, Q Prime AF |url=https://musicrow.com/2023/05/q-prime-joins-forces-with-aaron-frank-to-form-new-division-q-prime-af/ |website=MusicRow |access-date=15 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240625183932/https://musicrow.com/2023/05/q-prime-joins-forces-with-aaron-frank-to-form-new-division-q-prime-af |archive-date=June 25, 2024 |language=en |date=4 May 2023 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=King |first1=Ariel |title=Q Prime Joins Forces With Aaron Frank To Create Q Prime AF - Pollstar News |url=https://news.pollstar.com/2023/05/03/q-prime-joins-forces-with-aaron-frank-to-create-q-prime-af/ |website=Pollstar |access-date=15 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240914081311/https://news.pollstar.com/2023/05/03/q-prime-joins-forces-with-aaron-frank-to-create-q-prime-af |archive-date=September 14, 2024 |language=en |date=3 May 2023 |url-status=live}}
Q Prime added Dogstar to their roster in late 2023. Under Q Prime, the band released Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees, their first album in two decades.{{cite web |date=4 June 2024 |title=KEANU REEVES's Rock Band DOGSTAR Announces Summer 2024 North American Tour |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/keanu-reevess-rock-band-dogstar-announces-summer-2024-north-american-tour |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250607155433/https://blabbermouth.net/news/keanu-reevess-rock-band-dogstar-announces-summer-2024-north-american-tour |archive-date=June 7, 2025 |access-date=15 June 2025 |website=BLABBERMOUTH |language=en}}
In September 2024, Q Prime client Cage The Elephant was announced as the supporting act for Oasis on all North American dates of their 2025 reunion tour.{{Cite news |last=Snapes |first=Laura |date=2024-09-30 |title=Oasis announce dates in the US, Canada and Mexico – and no dynamic pricing |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/sep/30/oasis-announce-world-tour-dates-with-concerts-in-the-us-canada-and-mexico |access-date=2025-06-17 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} That same month, Q Prime South client Brett Eldridge launched his label, Warm and Cozy Records, with Q Prime and Q Prime South providing label services including marketing, press, and radio.{{Cite web |last=Nicholson |first=Jessica |date=2024-09-17 |title=Brett Eldredge Reveals New Holiday Album, Launches Warm and Cozy Records |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/brett-eldredge-launches-warm-cozy-records-talks-third-holiday-album-1235777190/ |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}
In October 2024, Q Prime began providing label services and distribution for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees The Zombies. Under the partnership, Q Prime manages marketing, manufacturing, distribution, and licensing for The Zombies' Beechwood Park Records label imprint. The imprint plans to reissue remastered versions of the band's 1960s catalog. Of the partnership, Burnstein said that the deal is "all about" the "very narrow window in a Venn diagram where love, admiration and business overlap."{{cite web |title=Q Prime inks label services and distribution deal with The Zombies, as iconic '60s band recaptures copyrights |url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/q-prime-inks-label-services-and-distribution-deal-with-the-zombies-after-iconic-60s-band-recaptures-their-copyrights/ |website=Music Business Worldwide |access-date=15 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250322082757/https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/q-prime-inks-label-services-and-distribution-deal-with-the-zombies-after-iconic-60s-band-recaptures-their-copyrights |archive-date=March 22, 2025 |language=en |date=23 October 2024 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - Class Of 2019 |url=https://rockhall.com/class-year/ |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=Rock & Roll Hall of Fame |language=en-US}}
Roster
=Current artists=
As of June 2025, the following artists are listed on Q Prime's official website:{{cite web |title=Q Prime Official Roster |url=https://qprime.com/ |website=Q Prime Artist Management |access-date=15 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250614181313/http://qprime.com |archive-date=June 14, 2025 |language=en |url-status=live}}
Q Prime (New York)
- Annie DiRusso
- Asinhell
- Cage The Elephant
- David Rawlings
- Disturbed
- Dogstar
- Gillian Welch
- Lydia Night
- Metallica
- Pantera
- Silversun Pickups
- Three Days Grace
- Volbeat
Q Prime UK
Q Prime South
- Ashley McBryde
- Brett Eldredge
- Brothers Osborne
- Eric Church
- Harper O’Neill
- Marty Stuart
Q Prime AF
- All Them Witches
- Dashboard Confessional
- Greta Van Fleet
- Jesse Welles (co-managed with Beau Boggs)
- Matt Maeson
- Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners (co-managed with Beau Boggs)
- St. Paul
- St. Paul & The Broken Bones
= Former artists =
{{Div col|colwidth=18em}}
- The Arcs{{cite web |title=The Arcs - Yours, Dreamily |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/9030786-The-Arcs-Yours-Dreamily |website=Discogs |access-date=15 June 2025 |language=en |url-status=live}}
- Baroness{{cite web |title=Baroness - Q Prime Credits |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/1261829-Q-Prime-Inc?searchParam=Baroness |website=Discogs |access-date=15 June 2025 |language=en |url-status=live}}
- Bruce Hornsby
- Def Leppard
- Dokken{{cite web |title=Dokken: The Best of Enemies |url=https://rockcandymag.com/storage/app/media/latest-issue/issue15/pages/DOKKEN-OPENING-SPREAD-HI-RES.pdf |website=Rock Candy Magazine |access-date=15 June 2025 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Elliott |first1=Paul |title=The explosive story of Dokken, the hard rock band that tore itself apart |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/dokken-band-history-interview |website=Louder |access-date=15 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250426020331/https://www.loudersound.com/features/dokken-band-history-interview |archive-date=26 April 2025 |language=en |date=29 June 2024 |url-status=live}}
- Fountains of Wayne{{cite web |title=Remembering Adam Schlesinger: A Tribute to a Friend |url=https://floodmagazine.com/76966/remembering-adam-schlesinger-a-tribute-to-a-friend |website=FLOOD |access-date=15 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005145917/https://floodmagazine.com/76966/remembering-adam-schlesinger-a-tribute-to-a-friend |archive-date=October 5, 2022 |language=en |date=April 15, 2020 |url-status=live}}
- Garbage{{cite web |last1=Eliscu |first1=Jenny |title=Green Day, Kid Rock and Others Pull Their Songs from the Net |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/green-day-kid-rock-and-others-pull-their-songs-from-the-net-192623/ |website=Rolling Stone |access-date=15 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126151900/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/green-day-kid-rock-and-others-pull-their-songs-from-the-net-192623 |archive-date=November 26, 2020 |language=en |date=24 July 2003 |url-status=live}}
- Hole
- Houndmouth
- Jimmy Page
- Josh Groban{{cite web |title=Josh Groban - Illuminations |url=https://www.discogs.com/master/351264-Josh-Groban-Illuminations |website=Discogs |access-date=15 June 2025 |language=en |url-status=live}}
- Led Zeppelin (For reunion show)
- Madonna
- Muse{{cite web |last1=Drone |first1=Thomas |title=Muse part ways with manager Addis {{!}} News {{!}} Music Week |url=https://www.musicweek.com/news/read/muse-part-ways-with-manager-addis/057502 |website=MusicWeek |access-date=15 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123033001/https://www.musicweek.com/news/read/muse-part-ways-with-manager-addis/057502 |archive-date=January 23, 2025 |language=en |url-status=live}}
- Nickel Creek
- Queensrÿche{{cite web |title=QUEENSRŸCHE Guitarist: GEOFF TATE Spat In My Face, Punched Me And Called Me A 'Pussy' |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/queensr-che-guitarist-geoff-tate-spat-in-my-face-punched-me-and-called-me-a-pussy |website=BLABBERMOUTH |access-date=15 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220716075228/https://blabbermouth.net/news/queensr-che-guitarist-geoff-tate-spat-in-my-face-punched-me-and-called-me-a-pussy |archive-date=July 16, 2022 |language=en |date=11 July 2012 |url-status=live}}
- Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Screaming Trees{{cite web |last1=Aswad |first1=Jem |title=Van Conner, Screaming Trees Co-Founder and Bassist, Dies at 55 |url=https://variety.com/2023/music/news/van-conner-screaming-trees-dead-dies-1235493452/ |website=Variety |access-date=15 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250401072025/https://variety.com/2023/music/news/van-conner-screaming-trees-dead-dies-1235493452 |archive-date=April 1, 2025 |language=en |date=18 January 2023 |url-status=live}}
- Shania Twain
- Smashing Pumpkins
- Snow Patrol
- Suicidal Tendencies{{cite web |title=Suicidal Tendencies - The Art Of Rebellion |url=https://www.discogs.com/master/18746-Suicidal-Tendencies-The-Art-Of-Rebellion |website=Discogs |access-date=15 June 2025 |language=en |date=1992}}
- Tesla{{cite web |last1=Ling |first1=Dave |title=The unlikely story of Tesla, the ultimate blue collar rockers |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/tesla-the-ultimate-blue-collar-rockers |website=Louder |access-date=15 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250112214343/https://www.loudersound.com/features/tesla-the-ultimate-blue-collar-rockers |archive-date=January 12, 2025 |language=en |date=25 March 2020 |url-status=live}}
- The Black Keys
- Veruca Salt
{{Div col end}}