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Author Topic: Popular Song Royalties Steve Kraus Film God Posts: 4094 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 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?  |  IP: Logged Manny Knowles "What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???" Posts: 4247 From: Bloomington, IN, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 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.  |  IP: Logged Ron Yost Master Film Handler Posts: 344 From: Paso Robles, CA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 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  |  IP: Logged Erick Akers Arse Kicker Posts: 201 From: Dallas, TX, USA Registered: May 2001 posted 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 Erick  |  IP: Logged Ron Yost Master Film Handler Posts: 344 From: Paso Robles, CA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 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  |  IP: Logged

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