Dead Music Stars Rake in the Big Bucks

By Tricia Romano Posted Oct 28th 2009 09:46PM

Dead music stars still have major drawing power. Michael Jackson's posthumous documentary and CD 'This Is It' is released this week, and if history is any guide, his estate stands to make a lot of money. Since his death in June, 9 million Jackson albums have been sold -- which means he's already beaten John Lennon and Elvis Presley in his fourth act.

Actors like Marilyn Monroe and Heath Ledger also earned a whopping amount of money after they died. In a dead celebrity shocker, Forbes just announced its list for 2009, with deceased fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent topping the dead celebs at $350 million. (They auctioned off his estate, which contained all his fancy stuff-art, furniture, and clothing.)

MJ debuted at number 3, and the year isn't even done.

Michaelangelo Matos, who's written for Rolling Stone and Spin, says of the post-death sales bump: "This goes back quite a ways in music. You can go all the way back to Hank Williams. He died on New Year's 1952-3, and his sales skyrocketed after his death."

Rolling Stone's Rob Sheffield, who writes the Pop Life column, adds: "MJ hasn't had a new record that anyone cared about in years, and it's hard to imagine people would care about his new performances if he were still alive. When an artist dies suddenly, and fans have mass grief, they want to hear the music as part of the mourning process. But with MJ, it's almost like people reconnected with music they'd forgotten how much they loved."

We take a closer look at some artists who've gotten even bigger after they entered the big house in the sky. Top dead music stars are:

Michael Jackson

After Jackson died this year, everyone rushed to buy his old records. Interestingly, it was the compilation, Number Ones that tallied the most sales in the week following his death -- not 'Thriller.'

"Nostalgia is much of it," says Matos. "Some of it is also changing media: people who abandoned their cassettes or LPs or even CDs and didn't replace their copies of 'Off the Wall' and 'Thriller' will seize the opportunity to remember. But it's part of a public act of grieving, too."

MJ's already expected to move 300,000 copies through the end of the week.

"Until now, I think Elvis had the record for the biggest posthumous publicity bump, but death didn't make people buy Elvis records the way it makes people buy MJ records," says Sheffield. "I don't think there's been anything like this before. No pop star's death has had this kind of impact on the public's appetite to hear his music."

Elvis Presley
According to Forbes, in 2008, Presley was still the King. Last year he topped the magazine's list of Dead Celebrities, bringing in $52 million on the 30th anniversary of his death, a feat he's managed most of the years they've done their survey. (All the Elvis memorabilia, plus visits to Graceland, help boost Presley.) This year, he came in fourth on the list -- making a measly $55 million.

"His catalog is enormous and has never stopped selling," says Matos.

Presley's dominance might only be toppled in the future by a few megastars, he says. "If Madonna or Prince were to keel over tomorrow it might spur similar reactions -- they were as defining, generationally, as Michael was, and are only in their early 50s. "

Kurt Cobain

After he shot himself at age 27, Kurt Cobain's mom infamously said: "Now, he's gone and joined that stupid club." The Nirvana frontman belongs to another exclusive club: that of dead celebrities whose records hit number one. 'MTV: Unplugged in New York' and 'From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah' both debuted at the top. Since his death, Cobain's estate earned $50 million in 2006 alone, putting him above the King on the Forbes list that year of dead music stars.

John Lennon
The Beatle has had a great run in the afterlife. After being unceremoniously shot by Mark David Chapman, John Lennon's career experienced a resurgence. His comeback record, 'Double Fantasy,' which featured his wife Yoko Ono, was released a month before he was killed. Prior to his death, 'Fantasy' only reached number 11 on the charts; after his death, it was number one in the U.S. for 8 weeks straight. It went on to sell three million copies, paling in comparison to other posthumous releases. However, Lennon was a critical success: the record went on to win a Grammy for Album of the Year and Lennon was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist.

Bob Marley

If you were in college in the 80s or 90s (and even in the aughts), chances are if you bought a reggae CD, it was Bob Marley's 'Legend.' The record is a classic: it contained the eternal hits, 'No Woman, No Cry,' 'I Shot the Sheriff,' and 'One Love.' The collection -- released three years after his death from cancer in 1981 -- has sold over 25 million copies worldwide. His sales were so strong, that he placed ninth on Forbes Top Earners list of Dead Celebrities in 2004.

Notorious B.I.G.
Biggie Smalls' double album, 'Life After Death,' sold 690,000 copies the week after he was killed. His two singles, 'Hypnotize' and 'Mo Money Mo Problems' also reached the top of the charts, a first for a non-living artist. The record went on to sell ten million copies and received the distinction of being certified diamond by the RIAA in 2000.

Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur released more records as a dead man than he did when he was alive. Two of his posthumous records went to number one -- they were made possible by the hundreds of tracks Tupac left in his wake. One of his albums, 'The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory' (under his other nom de dic, Makaveli), recorded in seven days and released just two months after he was shot, sold over 7 million in the U.S and 28 million worldwide In 2003, he pulled in a cool $12 mil.

Comments

(36)

Thursday 29 October

By Don

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Elvis' popularity is still going strong 30 years after his death.To say that Prince or Madonna might rival Elvis's legacy is silly.If either of those 2 were to pass I believe it would make a short term impact not even coming close to that of the passing of Elvis.
As far as a comparison between Elvis and Michael,both were great entertainers.They shared certain strengths and differed in other areas.As far as saying who was better alot might depend on what era you grew up in.I grew up in a time when Elvis had been around awhile and Michael was coming up.I feel having known the impact of both allows me to speak to the subject better than someone who only experienced one or the other.To me Elvis's voice far exceeded Michael's as Elvis's changed and matured with time,he had so much more range.Elvis was making alot of great dance moves before Michael was born.Michael had the advantage of being able to pick up moves from the likes of Jackie Wilson,James Brown and others.Believe it or not there were people doing the moon walk in the 50's although it wasn't called that(Jackie Wilson for one).Both Elvis and Michael had great charisma and stage presence.Michael and Elvis were unequalled as entertainers,it's a shame they both had so many issues in their personal lifes.

By Beth

Vote down Vote up Report this

I wonder how much money John Denver has made since his death?

By MITCH

76.45

By sandra

it seems to be the trend and we have to get used to it

By erica

Who is Elvis?

By Ron Stone

My dear little Erica, I hope you are joking with your question! Anyone who doesn't know ELVIS has to be from another planet. ELVIS is THE person to revolutionize not only music, but he influenced the way people dressed. Everything ELVIS did was copied by nearly every other entertainer to follow!
The world has been looking for a replacement for ELVIS 32 years after his death!! Will anyone have the following of fans and entertainers 32 years after their death? The answer is "NO!" Here is a man who blended country, gospel, rythm & blues and became the most popular entertainer in history. He created Rock & Roll and was called the KING back in the mid-1950's. The people called him KING, he did't label himself. Now, the "Freak Show Kid" labeled HIMSELF as king...not the people.
ELVIS was the first entertainer in history to be known by his first name. As years past, others began to label themselves with first names. You see kid, I am 66 years old and have seen thousands of singers/entertainers. When ELVIS died in 1977 there were THREE news channels. There were not hundreds of news channels and media hype like there is today. Michael Jackson was dead for 25 years. Now that he is officially dead, the MEDIA has brought him back to life! So don't say anything if you don't know what you are saying. So "DON'T CRITICIZE WHAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND GIRL,
YOU NEVER WALKED IN THAT MAN'S SHOES!"

Friday 30 October

By shasha

Lol Erica

By niki

yayyyy bob marley king of reggae

Tuesday 03 November

By Tell It Like It Is

To niki

Yes, Bob Marley is the King of Reggae, has been, ALWAYS WILL BE!

By Merely saying

Um. Elizabeth Taylor named MJ the King of Pop a long time ago. He was too modest to call himself that. Before you get hype about Elvis, know your facts. As to who is the best? To each their own. In my personal opinion, MJ was the best in overall talent. He was good before and after the drugs. Don't knock MJ because you are ignorant. Take some Psychology courses because you obviously do not know the word 'sympathy'. Dependence is hard. Especially if you grow tolerant to it. Understand the facts before you blow hot air on the rumors. Thank You.

By pj

excuse me to sennen and lola,first to sennen i am educated but very slow on computers im 62 and ive been around to watch michael evolve,and there were no computers when i went to school so actually im doing pretty good just to write this, sorry but i still see what i see and to both of you i dont hate michael jackson i think he is or was great, always was but its so sad to see these stars make so much money and work themselves so hard that it ends up in death because they will do whatever it takes to keep themselves going.didnt mean to upset anyone but it is what it is. of course elvis was my favorite just like michael must have been yours but i was at elvis's last concert here in indy and i saw what the drugs end up doing to you sorry again i didnt mean to step on any toes but we will see

To pj,

We already have seen King Michael on top of Elvis. I believe Elvis may have sold more records total is all. King Michael has BEAT him in every other category. Soon there will be none left. MICHAEL JOSEPH JACKSON IS AND WILL FOREVER BE KING, THE KING OF POP!!!!!

Saturday 31 October

By LetsGetReal

Well I grew up as a little girl during the era of Elvis and remembered when her died from a drug overdose at 42 years old in his bathroom, on 1977. Michael Jackson was 19 years old when Elvis died. I also grew up in my teens during the Jackson 5/Michael Jackson era. Both artist have completely different musical styles and are from different genre's of music, so IMO there's no comparison to either. It's like comparing apples and oranges..both are two different fruits.

Elvis was great in the 50s, 60s, and early 70s. MJ was just starting out with a recording career in the late 60s (1968 with Motown)and was 10 years old. By the time MJ came along, his career was making a jump start with the Jackson 5...Elvis was on his way out with his style of music, and a new musical era of disco was taking form.

All I can say is I have traveled and been on all 7 continents in the world, and MJ is famous and well known on all 7 continents. Never have I seen a musical artist that spans the globe at the level of Michael Jackson. For those who refuse to admit it, or do not want to accept it...Michael Jackson is a global music icon. Michael Jackson is very famous on all 7 continents. Only in America does he face ridicule, disrespect, and mistreatment...in the land where he was born.

People who live in the USA always thought MJ had to rely on the American public for support, but he was more famous overseas and better treated than he was within his own country. The other 6 continents in the world judged Michael Jackson only for his musical, singing, dance talents, and recognized a god given gift when they saw it.

Michael Jackson's music appeals to all races of the world, from all walks of life, and has no musical boundaries. Michael Jackson has definitely placed and impact in the world with his music, and from what I've seen with my own eyes and personal experiences, the impact he's left on the world is going to be around for quite a while.

To MADNESS,

Boy! You people sure give yourselves appropriate labels!!! Way to go!!!!! MADNESS is what it is, SHEER MADNESS!!!!! KING MICHAEL IS THE ONLY KING, THE KING OF POP!!! Now please, don't get MAD at me LOL!!!!!!

Tuesday 29 December

By Sillypin

These are not the times to say bad things about great people. I understand everyone has their opinions. But let's keep it real and always respect the ones that gave us happiness in music and in dance. Who are we to say one was better than the other? Can you do as they did? I would say no. Can you bring that many people together? I would say no again. No everyone can stay away from what they think can bring them happiness, like drugs, booze, etc. We can see what stardome brings. Some are not soo lucky. But I can say this, I loved Elvis and Michael all the same. Why? Because both brought music and dance for me and my kids to share. The person that says don't hate yet clearly says one is better than the other, is hate. We will always have their music and dance and love. So now is not the time to talk bad about the good. Take care everyone..

Sunday 09 January

By ybottt

I found the first released single of Michael Jackson in my husband's record collection "BIG BOY" by Steeltown recorded in 1968 and ONLY 60,000 copies were made and then put on the shelf.
Does anyone know it's earning power or where I can get that information.

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