David Lee Roth sold his publishing catalogue last year and says he’s feeling “rich”
David Lee Roth has revealed that he sold his music publishing catalogue last year, adding his name to the wave of legacy rock artists monetising their back catalogues in the streaming era.
The former Van Halen frontman shared the news during a backstage interview with the Associated Press at this year’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, where he also joined R&B artist Teddy Swims onstage for a surprise performance of Van Halen’s Jump.
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“I sold my publishing eight months ago,” Roth tells AP, before adding: “Ask me how I feel.”
When prompted, he replies: “[I feel] rich. [Laughs] For the first time in my life I can rub two coins together and create a little interest. No, really.”
The 71-year-old musician is credited with writing the majority of lyrics across Van Halen’s first six albums, and has long claimed authorship of “every word you heard, every syllable, every melody” during his tenure with the band.
His move follows a broader trend in recent years that has seen a growing number of classic rock acts cashing in on their catalogues. Artists including Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Stevie Nicks and Sting have all sold rights to their songwriting or publishing, while bands such as Pink Floyd and Kiss have also struck major catalogue deals.
The surge has drawn in a range of buyers, from major recording labels like Sony to private equity firms and asset management groups such as Hipgnosis, all betting on the long-term value of song ownership in a streaming-led market.
In 2024, Queen reportedly sold their catalogue to Sony Music in a landmark deal worth around $1.27 billion (£1 billion), underlining just how lucrative music rights have become in today’s industry.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
