Keyshia Cole Signs with Primary Wave Music and BMG: Exclusive

Grammy-nominated artist also reunites with producer Ron Fair for next album

Keyshia Cole has signed with Primary Wave Music for management. The announcement comes in the wake of the Grammy-nominated R&B singer signing with BMG and reuniting with A&R executive and producer Ron Fair for her next album.

In a statement announcing her signing news, Cole said, "I am truly blessed to continue my journey with a whole new team of believers: partner BMG with Tim Reid leading the charge; new management with Primary Wave under the direction of Steven Greener. And I’m beyond happy to be reunited with my musical father Ron Fair, who believed in me from the very beginning. [We’re] moving beyond our own footsteps, humble and aware of the shoes we need to fill."

Greener, Primary Wave Music’s head of talent management, noted, "We are thrilled to have Keyshia join the Primary Wave family. She is an extraordinary artist who has pushed the envelope throughout her career in music and on television. We are looking forward to a lengthy future together."

Cole was signed to her first major label contract by Fair. During his tenure as president of A&M Records and chairman of Geffen Records, Fair and the singer-songwriter collaborated on four albums. The first was her 2005 platinum debut The Way It Is, featuring the hits "I Should Have Cheated" and "Love."

"One hundred percent of my heart and soul, and everything I have learned in my 40-year career is dedicated to helping Keyshia Cole continue to sing her life story into the hearts of her fans,” Fair said. “The two of us have a magic combination in the studio. I’m thrilled about our reunion."

To date, Cole has charted 29 hits on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, including 3 No. 1s ("Let It Go," featuring Missy Elliott and Lil Kim, "I Remember" and "Heaven Sent”). She also counts seven albums on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, including three No. 1s (Just Like You, A Different Me and Point of No Return).

Cole’s last charting album on that tally, 11:11 Reset, debuted and peaked at No. 20 in 2017. All told, Cole has earned 6.7 million equivalent album units in total in the U.S., according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. Of that sum, 5.4 million are in album sales. Cole starred as well in the popular BET reality show The Way It Is for two seasons.

Primary Wave Music, which houses a publishing division as well, also represents Melissa Etheridge, Fantasia, the Isley Brothers, Cypress Hill and CeeLo Green, among other artists.