A recent investor earned 181.9% ROI on NBA YoungBoy’s Valuable Pain royalties, proving that music catalogs can be lucrative passive income assets—here are three essential questions to ask before investing in music royalties yourself.

Music royalties have become an increasingly profitable investment, offering a passive income stream that grows alongside streaming consumption. A prime example is the recent sale of NBA YoungBoy’s "Valuable Pain" songwriter royalties, where an investor made 181.9% ROI after holding the catalog for 3.85 years.
The investor initially purchased the catalog for $20,500 in July 2020, received $14,277 in royalty payments, and later resold it for $44,928 in July 2024. This impressive return highlights the wealth-building potential of investing in high-growth music royalties.
But how can you identify a catalog with this kind of upside? Before making a move, investors should ask these three crucial questions to assess the financial strength, investment comparison, and long-term revenue prospects of a music catalog.

One of the most important indicators of a strong music royalty investment is consistent year-over-year earnings growth. A catalog that is making more money each year shows strong listener retention, sustained demand, and increasing payouts to investors.
Despite being more than a decade old, Akon’s catalog continues to increase its revenue, proving that long-established songs can still be strong passive income assets.
Beyond its financial strength, Akon's catalog carries cultural significance, featuring major hits that remain in regular rotation worldwide.
This catalog is a strong buy for investors looking for stability, streaming longevity, and consistent payouts.
Music royalties are a unique asset class, providing passive income with significant growth potential. When comparing returns, some catalogs outperform traditional investments like stocks, ETFs, and real estate.
This catalog’s strong earnings growth makes it a competitive investment when compared to traditional asset classes.

Unlike stocks, music royalties provide direct cash flow with minimal management. Real estate requires tenant management and property upkeep, while royalties generate set-it-and-forget-it passive income.
For investors looking to diversify outside of stocks and bonds, music royalties offer a high-yield, low-maintenance alternative.
A critical factor in music investing is understanding whether a song will continue generating revenue long-term. Some songs fade quickly, while others sustain earnings for decades due to social media engagement, playlist placements, and a dedicated fanbase.
Despite being seven years old, Valuable Pain has continued to increase its earnings each year, proving its long-term staying power.
Many investors only focus on Spotify revenue without considering other platforms. Valuable Pain has strong earnings across:
Investors should always choose catalogs that perform well across multiple platforms, ensuring continued growth and revenue stability.
The 181.9% ROI on NBA YoungBoy’s "Valuable Pain" proves that music royalties can be a lucrative investment when chosen wisely. By asking the right questions, investors can find catalogs with strong financial growth, competitive returns, and long-term earning potential.
With high-growth catalogs like Akon, Nelly, and NBA YoungBoy available now, investing in music royalties has never been easier or more profitable.
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.
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