HarbourView Equity Partners has struck a partnership with Chaka Khan focused on catalog development, global licensing, and the creation of new creative ventures.
The deal, which according to the Hollywood Reporterincludes a stake in Khan’s catalog, comes at a moment of renewed creative momentum for Khan, who released her single Chakzilla in May 2026, her first new music in more than seven years.
Khan also completed a run on the Queens! 4 Legends, 1 Stage tour alongside Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle and Stephanie Mills, which was recognized by Billboard as one of the highest-grossing R&B tours of the year.
“Chaka Khan is a remarkable talent, an artist whose voice, spirit, and presence have moved effortlessly across generations while never losing their power or soul,” said Sherrese Clarke, Founder and CEO of HarbourView.
“Chaka Khan is a remarkable talent – an artist whose voice, spirit, and presence have moved effortlessly across generations while never losing their power or soul.”
Sherrese Clarke, HarbourView
“She is not only an iconic vocalist, but a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose energy, authenticity, and sense of self continue to inspire,” Clarke added.
“As both a musical force and a fashion icon, Chaka embodies a rare blend of strength, style, and spirit.
“We are honored to work alongside her as she continues to evolve her legacy in ways that feel as vibrant and resonant as ever,” said Clarke.
Khan said: “Music is the most powerful and generous thing I know, you give it away and somehow it always comes back bigger.”
“This beautiful group at HarbourView gets what my music means, not just as a business, but as a body of love. That matters to me deeply.”
Chaka Khan
“Seeing these songs still finding new ears and new hearts fills me up with joy,” Khan added.
“This beautiful group at HarbourView gets what my music means, not just as a business, but as a body of love. That matters to me deeply.”
Khan is an 11–timeGrammy Award winner whose career has spanned more than five decades, beginning as the lead vocalist of funk band Rufus.
Her catalog of anthems includes I’m Every Woman, Ain’t Nobody, Sweet Thing, Through the Fire, Tell Me Something Good, Like Sugar, and I Feel for You – the 1984 crossover hit featuring Grandmaster Melle Mel, which the press release describes as the first R&B track to feature a rap artist.
Khan was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2023 with the Musical Excellence Award, received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2026, and the BET Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.
The partnership marks another milestone in HarbourView‘s expansion of its entertainment portfolio.
The Newark, New Jersey-headquartered firm, founded in 2021 by former Tempo Music CEO Sherrese Clarke with backing from Apollo Global Management, has been on an active acquisition run in recent years.
HarbourView pointed to recent examples of its value creation efforts across its portfolio, including Daniel Caesar‘s Blessed being featured in Netflix‘s hit series Forever, a commercial license of Fleetwood Mac‘s The Chain in the official F1 movie trailer, and Bad Bunny‘s hit EoO, which samples Hector y Tito‘s Perreo Baby from HarbourView‘s catalog.
According to HarbourView, the company has amassed approximately $3.88 billion in regulatory assets under management and over 70 music catalogs to date, featuring a catalog of approximately 41,000 songs across both master recordings and publishing income streams.
The company’s portfolio includes catalogs from Kelly Clarkson, T-Pain, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, James Fauntleroy, George Benson, Luis Fonsi, Fleetwood Mac‘s Christine McVie, Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo, Nelly, Wiz Khalifa, and Kane Brown, among others.
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP served as legal counsel to HarbourView in the transaction.
Khan was represented by the Law Office of Ron E. Dolecki, P.C.Music Business Worldwide
HarbourView Equity Partners has announced a partnership with legendary musician Chaka Khan, focusing on catalog development, global licensing, and new creative ventures. This collaboration includes a stake in Khan’s extensive music catalog and comes at a pivotal time in her career, marked by the release of her single “Chakzilla” in May 2026, her first new music in over seven years. Khan has also recently completed a successful tour, « Queens! 4 Legends, 1 Stage, » alongside fellow R&B icons Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, and Stephanie Mills, which has been recognized as one of the highest-grossing R&B tours of the year by Billboard.
Sherrese Clarke, the Founder and CEO of HarbourView, praised Khan’s extraordinary talent and impact, stating, “Chaka Khan is a remarkable talent—an artist whose voice, spirit, and presence have moved effortlessly across generations while never losing their power or soul.” Clarke emphasized Khan’s multifaceted identity as not just an iconic vocalist but also a mother and grandmother, noting her continuing influence and authenticity.
Khan expressed her appreciation for the partnership, highlighting the importance of understanding the essence of her music. “Music is the most powerful and generous thing I know; you give it away and somehow it always comes back bigger,” she said. She conveyed that HarbourView recognizes her music not merely as a business asset but as a “body of love,” which resonates deeply with her. Khan added, “Seeing these songs still finding new ears and new hearts fills me up with joy.”
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With a career spanning over five decades, Khan has won 11 Grammy Awards and is known for timeless anthems such as “I’m Every Woman,” “Ain’t Nobody,” “Sweet Thing,” “Through the Fire,” and “I Feel for You.” Her single “I Feel for You” was particularly groundbreaking as it featured rap artist Grandmaster Melle Mel, marking a significant moment in R&B history. In 2023, Khan was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the Musical Excellence Award and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2026, further solidifying her legacy in the music industry.
This partnership with Khan is another significant step in HarbourView’s ongoing expansion of its entertainment portfolio. Founded in 2021 by Clarke, a former CEO of Tempo Music, the Newark, New Jersey-based firm has been actively acquiring music and non-music assets. Recently, HarbourView acquired various assets from the estate of Quincy Jones, including music rights and participation in projects such as « The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. » The firm also purchased the pre-2024 catalog of artist Stefflon Don and secured a majority stake in Slipknot’s catalog, along with the publishing catalog and select masters of T-Pain.
HarbourView has highlighted its success in creating value across its diverse catalog portfolio, with notable examples such as Daniel Caesar’s « Blessed » being featured in the Netflix series « Forever, » and the commercial license of Fleetwood Mac’s « The Chain » in the official trailer for a Formula 1 movie. The company also noted the popularity of Bad Bunny’s hit « EoO, » which samples music from HarbourView’s catalog.
As of now, HarbourView has amassed approximately $3.88 billion in regulatory assets under management, with over 70 music catalogs that include around 41,000 songs from both master recordings and publishing income streams. Its diverse catalog features works from various renowned artists, including Kelly Clarkson, T-Pain, Rodney « Darkchild » Jerkins, James Fauntleroy, George Benson, Luis Fonsi, Christine McVie from Fleetwood Mac, Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo, Nelly, Wiz Khalifa, and Kane Brown.
Legal counsel for the transaction was provided by Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP for HarbourView, while Khan was represented by the Law Office of Ron E. Dolecki, P.C. This partnership not only marks a significant moment for Chaka Khan as she continues to evolve her legacy but also showcases HarbourView’s commitment to expanding its influence within the music industry through strategic collaborations and acquisitions.
