Part of the aftermath of the “Blurred Lines” lawsuit by the estate of Marvin Gaye against Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams is that the public is getting a rare look at just how lucrative a hit song can be.
According to recent testimony in the ongoing trial, the 2013 hit song netted profits of $16,675, 690.
Of that total, as the lead artist and performer of the song Thicke pocketed $5,658,214. Producer (and apparent writer) Williams earned $5,153,457 and featured artist T,I. took home $704,774. The remaining profits were split among the three record companies involved (Interscope, Star Trak, and UMG Distribution).
Another bombshell revealed during the trial is that with all costs accounted for in the promotion of the single, the finally tally of overhead costs totaled about $6.9 million.
Granted that number seems excessive, but an industry veteran with intimate knowledge of the process says that number more than likely includes the recording of the album, marketing and promoting of the single and various other promotional costs, including lots of travel for Thicke and his team to promote the single around the world.
“It costs a [ton] of money when you’re sending Robin and dancers all over the globe,” says the industry veteran who wished to remain anonymous. “You have flights to bring people in, the set, wardrobe, a musical director, hair, makeup, dancers, etc. That’s why you better sell records after that.”
