Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Popular Song Royalties

This is topic Popular Song Royalties in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 02-27-2004, 01:18 PM:

In About a Boy the Hugh Grant character has never done a day's work his entire life. He lives off the royalties of a Christmas song, Santa's Super Sleigh his father wrote many years before.

How much money does a popular song bring in for its composer/lyricist and how much do you suppose a perennially popular Christmas song could bring in say twenty or thirty years later? Assume the original recording is still selling and still getting airtime, the song turns up on TV shows and movies, and is also being covered by newer singers. Think of holiday songs that are still presumably under copyright like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Have a Holly Jolly Christmas, Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, or Jingle Bell Rock.

Could someone live off the royalties of one song?

Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 02-27-2004, 05:56 PM:

Interesting question. (I don't know the answer.)

I suppose it could go a long way if the original payday was carefully managed and/or invested.

Posted by Ron Yost (Member # 1850) on 02-27-2004, 09:06 PM:

Folks can live off of one song .. sometimes for generations. "Happy Birthday" (don't remember the composer) has done very well for the composer and his heirs. Their copyright is rigidly enforced, too.

Ron Yost

Posted by Erick Akers (Member # 875) on 02-27-2004, 10:01 PM:

Two sisters wrote that song and they are doing very well, I believe they are currently in their 80's and they make occasional appearances.

I'm too tired (not lazy)to look them up on the net right now, but maybe someone else will and post it in this thread [Big Grin]

Erick

Posted by Ron Yost (Member # 1850) on 02-27-2004, 11:38 PM:

Ah ha, you're right! It was the Hill sisters, Mildred J. and Patty Smith Hill.

Here's a link about the history of "Happy Birthday":

Happy Birthday history

Ron Yost