Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I have a friend whose songs have been on the soundtrack of the movie Shallow Hal, and three others I have heard of but not seen, and on a grammy nominated (actually I think it won), platinum selling album by a respected artist. So I ask him, what's the money like? He says, it's getting him by, for now he doesn't have to work, still lives in a shack, but that won't last forever. So, I ask anyone out there, what does it take to score enough to basically retire (considering one retains publishing, etc.)? A number one? Three number ones? A top twenty? Not neccessarily millions, but enough to pull in a middle class income for life. I've seen programs where MTV staples of the '80's are now painting houses for a living. Yikes!

The way I look at it is there are 4 options:
1. keep your integrity and starve, or,
2. prostitute yourself and wish you were painting houses, or,
3. be one of the few extremely talented players who worked there asses off who genuinely deserve to be where they are, or.....
4. keep your integrity and starve.

A mixture of two and three seem to be the norm.
But I mean technically, from an accountant's point of view.

In my friends' band are people who played with Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Lone Justice, X, etc. They've been workin' their asses off, keepin' their integrity, are more talented than a lot I've seen here in L.A., which has it's fair share of talented people. They looked pretty hungry last time I saw 'em.

I just wonder if you wrote the most wonderful, artistic song, full of integrity, and it happened to sell anyway, what numbers are we talkin'.

I think you may be better off financially writing songs for beer and car commercials. That seems to be what some bands that can't make it otherwise are doing. Of course, some bands that one would never have considered "selling out" are selling out.

Personally, I don't see anything wrong with it, so long as it's ok with the original artist/writer.

I can't stand zepplin songs being used for cadillac

Yeah, I hate to hear classic songs in commercials, it's like blasphemy.

I believe the classic Steve Martin response to your question is "Well, first you take a million dollars then..."

I'm reaching waaay back through the mists of time here, but I seem to remember reading something several years ago to the effect that Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" album netted her four million bucks. I have no idea how many copies were sold or what her percentage was, and of course those were Eighties dollars.

I attribute my own dismay at hearing "my" songs used in commercials to old age. When I first heard the Buzzcocks' "What Do I Get" in a Toyota commercial I knew it was over. My local mall even has XTC's "King For A Day" in it's Muzak rotation!

I heard Pete Best made like 8 million from the Beatles Anthology. About time, he musta thought.

Imagine in a few years "Gangsta's Paradise" will end up in a Mortgage Bank commercial or elevator muzak.

Iggy Pop's "Lust For Life" being used for a Cruise Line commercial, also very weird.

I heard Iggy is very pleased with it, as it's bringing more attention to his music. The money probably doesn't hurt either.

That is neat, that he get money from it, I wonder sometimes where these producers get their ideas, of what music to use?

Would that be considered selling out?

Sorry, got to do it. How do you make a million dollars playing jazz.....?

Start with two million....!

I sincerely apologize, that was old jazz musician joke I just couldn't pass up.

Reminds me of a few:

What do you say to a bassist standing on your front porch?

Thanks for the pizza - keep the change!


What do you call a drummer who's just broken-up with his girlfriend?

Homeless!

What do you say to a guitarist in a three-piece suit?

"Will the defendant please rise!"