Music

Writer of This Classic Song Yet to See a Penny in Profits

Alan Cross 0 Comments

You’ve heard “Money (That’s What I Want).”  It’s been covered countless times, from The Beatles (below) to the Flying Lizards.  Yet Barrett Strong, the man who wrote it for Motown, says that he hasn’t seen a single penny in profits from his creation.

What’s that?  How?  The New York Times has the answer:

Unbeknown to Mr. Strong, who also helped write many other Motown hits, his name was removed from the copyright registration for “Money” three years after the song was written, restored in 1987 when the copyright was renewed, then removed again the next year — his name literally crossed out.

Ah, the music business, huh? Continue reading.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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