Picture from Bio
I imagine that for a songwriter there comes a certain point when you finish writing a song unaware (or possibly cynically aware) of the fact that they have just created a song that is going to continue to make money long after the initial chart success is over. Robbie Williams probably knew that his 1998 hit 'Millennium' had a potential future resurgence on New Year's Eve the following year, although Prince might not have written '1999' with the same intentions but it did get dragged out again. The big pay day of course is the Christmas hit, even the shit ones get shown every year on the music channels and the big hitters such as Slade, Wizzard, Shakin' Stevens and George Michael (not to mention Irvin Berlin's estate) pulling in royalties worth an estimated half a million pounds a year.
Aside from Christmas songs there is also the occasional bit of good luck such as a piece of music being used in an advertisement or film, especially if the film is regularly on television. Football is another good earner, especially if used as the theme for competition coverage ('Bitter Sweet Symphony' by The Verve must have been a pisser for the band given that all the money from that song goes to the Rolling Stones), and a good World Cup song will always return to radio during the tournament ('Three Lions' and 'World in Motion' being the most obvious ones that spring to mind).
While we might be jealous of those songwriters clever enough to strike it lucky as far as the royalty cheques, maybe we should spare a thought for those who might have rubbed their hands in anticipation only to have those hopes of a boost to the coffers cruelly snatched from them.
The 2016 Olympics were held in Rio and the BBC used 'Not Gonna Break Me' by Jamie N Commons in the trailers, I can't remember what ITV used or even if they broadcast the competition. There is one band who have every right to be thoroughly pissed off and that is Duran Duran. Okay so the lyrics to 'Rio' don't exactly match, but they could have used the instrumental version as everyone knows the name. BBC1 is currently broadcasting Planet Earth 2, the sequel series to the original from 2006. Another kick in the teeth for Duran Duran who jointly take the writing credits and could have had turkey for Christmas. Perhaps there is someone at the BBC who hates Duran Duran (or one of the individual members) and gets a sick thrill out of depriving them of a payout.
I've just checked the TV listings and I am going to keep an eye out for the upcoming nature programme Hungry Like the Wolf and see what happens.
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