Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has one of the most famous speaking voices in history, so it’s no surprise that recordings of his voice can be both a lucrative and significant venture for music publishers. In an exclusive deal with EMI Music Publishing, Dr. King’s estate have allowed his voice, likeness, image and name to be used in digital media, recordings and music, CBC reports.
EMI, the former home to legendary acts like the Beatles, Pink Floyd, the Beach Boys and Radiohead, will work with an Atlanta-based company to get the civil rights icon’s inspirational words in music.
“Assuring that Dr. King’s words are accorded the same protection and same right for compensation as other copyrights works is a profound responsibility, and we are proud of the confidence that the estate has placed in us to fulfill that responsibility,” EMI’s Roger Faxon said in a statement (via CBC).