How David Bowie Banked $55 Million Without Selling His Songs
Way back when in ’97, long before music was streamed anywhere, one of the most iconic (and business savvy) artists of all time struck a deal that foreshadowed what is set to become one of the most powerful trends in the music industry today.
In a business where there are hundreds of stories of artists who end up penniless, even after hit records and careers spanning decades, it’s nice to be able to point to one artist who did well.
David Bowie was one of a handful of artists who evolved through the decades, creating bold new styles, all while remaining on the creative edge. Bowie was still touring into the 2000s, after filling stadiums through the 80s and 90s. I remember being awed by his stage presence at a sold-out Anaheim Stadium, during the “Serious Moonlight” tour, many years after “Ziggy Stardust” and “Diamond Dogs” achieved global success.
But beyond the makeup and the stylish wardrobe and the dancer-like poise he exhibited on stage, Bowie was prolific. By the early 90s, he had written and recorded 25 studio albums, comprised of 287 songs — a staggering catalog of work, rivaled by few artists to this day. It was the success of this catalog that caught the attention of a young Wharton-educated, investment banker named David Pullman a few years later.
