The Surprising Truth About Royalties: When Great Hits Left the Original Artists High and Dry

In the realm of popular music, it's common for hit songs to change hands multiple times. While these tracks might become classics, their original creators often find themselves left in the dust when it comes to royalty payments. It's a process wrapped in layers of legal intricacies and sometimes sheer bad luck. Here, we explore several notable songs that, despite becoming megahits, failed to deliver substantial financial gains to their original artists.

Examples of Songs Struggling to Pay Royalties to Original Artists

Several renowned songs have achieved widespread fame without their original creators benefitting financially. These examples highlight the often-complicated relationship between songwriters, performers, and the music industry and the complexities in ensuring original creators receive fair compensation for their work.

The Blue Moon of Kentucky

Originally penned and recorded by Big Mama Thornton, the song became a hit after Elvis Presley’s rendition. Despite Thornton's groundbreaking work and the massive success of Elvis's version, she received little to no royalties. This is a common issue in the music industry, where the writer and publisher of the song often reap the financial rewards, while the original performer is left with a fraction of the earnings.

Twist and Shout

While Chubby Checker popularized the song, its original author, Hank Ballard, did not receive significant royalties from the Checker version, which became a major hit. History often glosses over the contributions of the first artists and writers, opting instead to focus on those who later re-recorded or popularized the songs.

Those Were the Days

Composed by Dolly Parton, the song was initially recorded and released by Parton before Whitney Houston's rendition made it famous. This is a testament to the fact that sometimes, the original artist is not the one to benefit the most from a song's success.

Rhythm of the Rain

The song sampled Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen and Big Brother and the Holding Company's version of Revolution by The Beatles. Thesong became a massive hit, overshadowing its original lead singer, Charles Stepney, who received minimal royalties.

What in the World

Soft Cell's adaptation of The Empty Chairs at Empty Tables, originally a Gloria Jones song, became a huge hit, but Jones did not receive a share of the profits. This underscores the challenges faced by original songwriters when it comes to revenue distribution.

The Complicated Relationship Between Writers, Performers, and Copyright

One significant aspect of this issue lies in the different benefits associated with songs. While songwriters and publishers earn from record sales and airplay, artists often only earn from record sales. This can create a significant disparity in revenue for original creators versus those who perform the songs later.

Case Study: Angel of the Morning

For instance, Marilee Rush sang Angel of the Morning and received a modest amount in royalties that amounted to a drop in the bucket compared to what the song earned in total. This illustrates how royalties can be allocated and the unfairness faced by original performers.

Public Domain and Copyright Battles

In some cases, songs that have never been properly copyrighted find themselves in legal battles. One of the most notable examples is the Happy Birthday song, widely considered the most popular song of all time. Because it was never properly copyrighted, a company tried to collect royalties on it.

Eventually, the song's use became so widespread that it entered the public domain, meaning it can be used freely without restrictions. This highlights the importance of proper copyright registration and the potential consequences when it's ignored.

House of the Rising Sun

For a generation of music fans, House of the Rising Sun, popularized by The Animals, is a prime example. It's a traditional folk song with roots in the distant past. Bob Dylan and countless others have covered or adapted this song, contributing to its enduring legacy.

When The Animals recorded their version, they were under pressure to find a hit single. In good faith, all members of the band agreed to put Alan Price's arrangement—later copyrighted and credited to him—on the credits. Unfortunately, the band members eventually regretted this decision, as Alan Price reaped all the financial benefits in the millions, while the band received far less.

Conclusion

The story behind many hit songs often involves more than just the final performance. The path to success can be dotted with legal complexities and financial disagreements that leave original creators at a disadvantage. Understanding these issues can help raise awareness and potentially lead to more equitable practices in the future.