The recent sale at Royalty Exchange of publishing royalties for music tracks by Rihanna and Kanye West, among others, marks another investment opportunity at a very reasonable price. In May 2024, the investor acquired the asset at just $35,000, which is 11.32 times the asset’s value in the last 12 months.
This breaks the false impression that music royalty investing is traditionally reserved for industry insiders or ultra-wealthy investors. In this business, fans and small-scale investors can transform from passive listeners into active stakeholders in their favorite artists' financial successes through royalties.
The tracks from Rihanna and Kanye West featured in this listing include the following:
Rihanna: "Goodnight Gotham"
For a song that lasts only a minute and a half, “Goodnight Gotham” is Rihanna’s one of the best tracks despite that voice not being featured at all. It samples Florence + the Machine’s “Only If For A Night.” It was included in the artist’s eighth studio album, “ANTI” (deluxe version), released in 2016.
The song sees Rihanna expressing a deep and overwhelming connection to her fans, referring to them as her salvation and reason for strength. Despite its short duration, "Goodnight Gotham" packs a powerful punch, showcasing Rihanna’s bold and experimental musical style that blends various genres and influences.
Florence shared how her song became a sample: “I was so thrilled, ‘cause I’m such a huge fan. She’d sent me the song and I said, like 'Of course,’ but we never actually managed to speak. I mean, we’ve met before, but we’ve never managed to speak in person about it. We were both really happy. We got to hug it out. It’s one of my favorite songs from Ceremonials, and I love it when stuff like that happens. When people reimagine your music, I love that, when it has all these different forms."
The song was also featured in a Dior ad where the singer teased her fans before its release.
But what made it more popular was the music video that was shot in Paris. Featuring the iconic Eiffel Tower bathed in lights in the background, Rihanna dramatically charges toward her fans at Trocadero Square. As the paparazzi swarm near, her fans surge forward, ultimately lifting and carrying her in a spontaneous display of affection and excitement. It was the craziest thing that she ever did, according to the Barbadian celebrity.
Kanye West: “FML”
“FML" is a poignant piece in Kanye West’s discography. The title, which stands for "Forget My Life” or “For My Lady” (according to some sources), is a track from his 2016 album, "The Life of Pablo." This song delves into themes of personal struggle, vulnerability, and the conflicts that arise from fame and personal relationships. Featuring vocals from The Weeknd, "FML" reveals a darker, more introspective side of Kanye, contrasting with some of his more boastful tracks.
In the song, Kanye discusses his mental health, marital issues, and the temptations that threaten his stability and success. It’s a candid reflection on his fears of losing everything he cherishes due to his own actions and decisions.
It contains a sample of the 1981 song, "Hit," by Section 25. Two of the band members praised West for sampling their track, according to RollingStone.
It reached number 3 in Sweden, number 23 in the UK Hip Hop/R&B chart, and number 30 in the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs by Billboard, and is certified Gold in Denmark, Silver in the UK, and Platinum in the United States.
Royalty Earnings Performance
The listing’s earnings are pretty consistent since the catalog has matured over the course of 7+ years. With iconic artists in this asset, there’s no doubt that it could still grow further down the line.
Since 2020, total earnings have stayed above $3,000.
Streaming Mechanical is the top income type earner in this listing with $1,569 in the last 12 months. This is followed by Mechanical with $840.
Of the sources, Streaming is the top earner with $1,725 in the last 12 months.
Of all the 13 tracks in this listing, “Goodnight Gotham” has earned $1,849 in the last 12 months. “FML,” on the other hand, has earned $1,038, accounting for 34% of earnings in the last 12 months.
“Goodnight Gotham” has 16 million views on YouTube and more than 39 million streams on Spotify. On the other hand, “FML” has 15 million views on YouTube and more than 223 million on Spotify.
Interested in Investing?
Check out this listing on Royalty Exchange today to view more details about it.
Royalty Exchange also offers other catalogs with different genres (including your favorite R&B hits) that are up for auction today, so sign up as an investor to get started.
If you’re new to royalty investing, Royalty Exchange has prepared this guide on Royalty Investing Made Easy. Discover why so many investors today are actively searching for the next best music investment deals.
