A Question That I Hope Is Not Inappropriate...

[Steve S]

OK. Here is my question, and I ask it just out of curiosity. How much is Burt worth? I ask it because I have no idea how the songs themselves, their royalties, the motion picture contracts, concert appearances, etc., would all add up over the years. Is Burt in the upper bracket of what music celebrities earn? Is he in the middle range or lower range? If this is inappropriate to ask, I apologize and won't expect any answers. But if anyone knows, I'd be interested to hear about it. After all, with as much talent and with such a history of musical recording success as Burt has enjoyed, it'd be interesting to know what the yield has been, financially. Steve

[An Enormous BB Fan]

I think it's a great question (and appropriate). In fact, I posed the question in the past myself and didn't get one response.

I don't believe songwriters get the big, big bucks you're speaking of. Not from royalties, at least. After all, sad to say, I think songwriters only get pennies per CD sold. The real money, I believe, comes from touring and playing big arenas. That's why guys like Elton John, Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, etc. are so fabulously wealthy. That's why I don't believe that Burt, sad to say, isn't in that class of wealth. Having said that, I do believe that Burt is still very, very well off. And he and Hal deserve every penny, too.

Just my 2 cents.

[ron]

Certainly NOT inappropriate and while I've never given it much thought - it is certainly an interesting subject. Can't do the math; however, I'm certain that it's highly unlikely that he and his family members will ever experience financial problems. One thing I do know is that when he had his home on the beach here in Del Mar back in the 80's, Burt was not into "conspicuous consumption". I recall seeing him driving around with Carole Bayer Sager (his wife at the time) in a yellow 73 or 74 Ford Galaxy enjoying their privacy. His house which was right on the water was equally modest (although pricey). The man does love his race horses and that's not a poor man's sport. He also loves what he does and most importantly he's one heck of a "nice guy"!

Any accounting / tax preparer types out there who work in the music business? You can probably give us a "ballpark estimate"

[Marcel]

fir the record,(Burt is a musicholic)
Burt has his own Publishising called New Hidden Valley And Hal David has CasaDavid.
And after all they do get their royalties every year.
Burt gets not only money from his Venues or appearence by others.

There are a few songs by them (together or separate) which have a statement of millon times played(aired).
But still it`s tough and very hard workin`in the music industery.
(i know that because i did worked there for several years!)

But for real is it very importened to know how much he gets?
If so, he desereve it!

Kind Regards Marcel

[rasputin]

It's a fair question. To know a ballpark figure, anyway.


I think it's really neat when a songwriter suddenly finds himself getting new royalties for a song he/she wrote MANY years ago. That must be very gratifying on so many levels.

e.g., Carole King getting royalties when Kylie Minogue does a remake of "Loco-Motion" nearly 40 years after the song was written. Or Henry Mancini getting new royalties when a 1990's rap group incorporated that recognizable bass riff from "Peter Gunn". Or the post-grunge group The Lemonheads doing a remake of Paul Simon's "Mrs. Robinson".

[Alvina did not sign in ha]

Hum, now you have me thinking. I always think of him as having more than anyone needs. Perhaps that isn't reality but in any case I do believe he is rich in so many ways. He has great children and oh my, that music is a gift to us all. My prayer for him is to be happy always. I hope he works for the love of it and not out of necessity.

[Guest]

i was told a couple of years ago that burt receives $40,000 per appearance (for his symphony dates), plus travel and accomodation expenses for his company ( about another 40,000). This is just one source of income of course, and not the most lucrative i'm sure but it is interesting to know. can you imagine trying to put a price tag on his contribution to the world and to all of our lives? immeasurable!!

[Guest]

songwriters are paid every time their song is PLAYED!!
writers as prolific as burt [dylan,mccartney,webb] recieve huge royalty checks each month,you can be assured.
mojo magazine often tells tales of one hit wonders who support themselves for life if a song is a staple on the radio,commercials or soundtracks.
and if they own the publishing,mo' better!

[RF - Norway]

"One industry insider estimates that combined record royalties, sheet music, and having his greatest hits played in the airports and elevators of the world must have made Bacharach between $30 million and $40 million"


-Saturday Telegraph Magazine of 16th September 1995.

[Westgate1]

I would guess that Burt had made lots more than many think I agree that everytime that one of his songs is played is paid very well.

I recall reading that Paul McCartney income from this source per year was in the tens of millions....this was just from old record sells, commerical airplay, artist playing the music, etc....I can't image Burt and Hal not cleaning up as well!!

[rowan]

Except Micheal Jackson owns the copyrights to many Beatle songs as he outbid Paul himself for them in auction. So Paul isn't worth as much as he could have thank to Jacko.

[Westgate1]

"Except Micheal Jackson owns the copyrights to many Beatle songs as he outbid Paul himself for them in auction. So Paul isn't worth as much as he could have thank to Jacko."

Jackson does own the publishing rights which Paul has not owned for many years prior to Jackson's bid for them in the 80's!!! The point is that the songwriter still gets paid...no matter who own the publishing rights!!!