Music Catalogs That Pay Over $56,000 a Year in Passive Income—3 Examples to Invest in Today, Growing 20%+ Year over Year

Music royalties are one of the most underrated passive income streams, generating consistent earnings from streaming, radio play, live performance, and licensing. With Royalty Exchange, investors can own a piece of these cash-flowing assets, just like dividend stocks or real estate.

Below are three high-growth music catalogs available for investment today, each earning over $56,000 per year in royalties with 20%+ annual growth.

Example #1: SZA + Rihanna Songwriter Royalties

Why This Catalog is a High-Growth Investment Opportunity

This catalog features songwriting royalties from SZA and Rihanna, two of the most streamed and influential female artists in modern music.

Key Stats That Demonstrate Its Long-Term Value

• SZA - Supermodel – 305 million Spotify streams
• Rihanna - Consideration (feat. SZA) – 320 million Spotify streams
• SZA - Normal Girl – 336 million Spotify streams
• SZA - 20 Something – 223 million Spotify streams
• 36.29% growth in last 12 months earnings vs. 3-year average

Lessons from Investing in This Type of Catalog

1. Timeless R&B Albums Maintain Consistent Streaming Revenue
   • CTRL and Anti are still charting years after release, proving their long-term streaming value.
   • Anti has remained on the Billboard 200 for over 300 weeks, a sign of strong residual revenue potential.
2. Grammy-Nominated & Critically Acclaimed Albums Hold Cultural Weight
   • SZA’s CTRL was named Time Magazine’s #1 Best Album of 2017, while Anti was SPIN’s #1 album of the decade.
   • These accolades increase licensing potential for sync deals, further strengthening royalty value.
3. Streaming Power Provides Passive Income Stability
   • With high monthly streaming counts, these tracks have massive replay value, ensuring reliable royalty payments for investors.

Quarterly Growth: 18.36%‍

Last 12 Months vs. 3-Year Average Growth: 36.29%‍

Why This Catalog Stands Out: Owning a share of this catalog means securing recurring revenue from two of the most successful R&B and Pop artists of the last decade, ensuring longevity and strong earning potential.

Example #2: Nas and Kanye West Publishing Royalties

How to Profit from a Hip-Hop Legacy Catalog Like This

This catalog includes publishing royalties from some of the most legendary hip-hop songs ever released. Investors looking for long-term stability and prestige should consider this opportunity. Here are 3 steps to identifying quality music catalogs like this one to invest in.

Step 1: Identify Long-Tail Revenue Streams in Hip-Hop

• Hip-hop has one of the longest streaming lifecycles, and classic albums continue to be rediscovered by younger audiences.
• Kanye West - Runaway (865 million Spotify streams) and Nas - The World is Yours (191 million Spotify streams) have maintained steady streaming numbers for years, indicating lasting revenue potential.

Step 2: Invest in a Catalog with Industry-Dominating Songs

• Runaway was featured in Kanye West’s MTV VMA performance, widely regarded as one of the greatest live performances of all time.
• Illmatic is one of the most critically acclaimed rap albums ever, featured on multiple “Greatest Albums of All Time” lists.

Step 3: Benefit from Publishing Rights That Secure Long-Term Licensing Deals

• Unlike performance royalties, publishing royalties generate passive income whenever the song is streamed, covered, sampled, or synced in films and commercials.
• They Reminisce Over You (88 million Spotify streams) is one of the most frequently licensed hip-hop songs for TV and film placements.

Quarterly Growth: 40.65%

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Last 12 Months vs. 3-Year Average Growth: 19.64%

‍Why This Catalog Stands Out: Owning part of this catalog is comparable to holding a blue-chip stock in hip-hop—these royalties will continue producing income indefinitely due to cultural significance and consistent licensing demand.

Example #3: NBA YoungBoy and Lil Durk Publishing Royalties

The Advantages of Owning a High-Streaming, Viral-Driven Hip-Hop Catalog

This catalog is one of the fastest-growing royalty investments in today’s streaming-driven music industry. NBA YoungBoy is the most-streamed rapper on YouTube, ensuring continued revenue from his loyal and highly engaged audience.

Key Benefits of Owning This Catalog

• YoungBoy’s Fanbase Drives Streaming Revenue
  • Untouchable (192 million Spotify streams, 293 million YouTube views) showcases his dominance on both DSPs and video streaming platforms, diversifying revenue sources.
• Quarterly Growth of 38.12% Indicates Explosive Expansion
  • Unlike legacy catalogs that remain stable, this one is actively increasing in popularity, making it a high-upside investment.
• YouTube Royalties Provide an Additional Revenue Stream
  • Many investors overlook how YouTube’s Content ID system monetizes unofficial uploads, which contributes to recurring earnings from user-generated content.

Mistakes to Avoid When Investing in Streaming-Heavy Hip-Hop Catalogs

• Assuming all hip-hop catalogs are equally profitable
  • Some rappers release high-streaming songs that don’t hold long-term value, but YoungBoy’s catalog maintains high replay rates, ensuring steady income.
• Ignoring YouTube Revenue
  • Some catalogs rely heavily on one streaming platform like Spotify, but YoungBoy is the most-streamed rapper on YouTube globally, meaning his royalties come from multiple revenue streams, reducing risk.

Quarterly Growth: 38.12%

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Last 12 Months vs. 3-Year Average Growth: 25.4%

‍Why This Catalog Stands Out: For investors seeking a fast-growing music asset with proven streaming dominance, this catalog provides high revenue potential with an upward earnings trajectory.

Why These Music Catalogs Are Strong Passive Income Investments

Whether you're looking for stable, long-term income (Nas/Kanye), massive streaming dominance (NBA YoungBoy), or R&B excellence with cultural staying power (SZA/Rihanna), these three music catalogs are prime assets to generate $56,000+ per year in royalties.

Each catalog offers unique advantages, and they all share one common trait—consistent passive income generation with annual earnings growth exceeding 20%.

With the streaming economy continuing to expand and music consumption at an all-time high, investing in music royalties is a smart way to diversify a portfolio while securing reliable, long-term income.

On Royalty Exchange you can sign up as an investor and search through thousands of music catalog listings that include producer and songwriter royalties to some of the biggest songs of the past few decades. Discover why song royalties are one of the best investments to grow your wealth in 2025 and download the free Ultimate Guide To Music Royalties to learn everything you need to know about investing in royalties.