'Happy Birthday to You' tops the list of highest-grossing songs in history. From March it could be freely available to everyone.
ADVERTISEMENTThe world’s most lucrative song may be free to use from as early as next month.
‘Happy Birthday to You’ has been embroiled in a decades-long legal dispute. In 1988, music publisher Warner/Chappell bought the rights for $22 million and has been making an estimated $2 million per year in licencing ever since.
However, in September 2015, a court ruling found the company didn’t own the song’s lyrics, just some of its musical arrangements.
In a settlement filed on February 8, Warner/Chappell agreed to pay $14 million to end the case challenging the rights to the birthday song.
US district judge George H King will be able to approve the settlement in March, making ‘Happy Birthday to You’ available to everyone.
Top ten grossing songs of all time
At number 10…
Mel Torme – ‘The Christmas Song’ (1944)
Estimated earnings: $19 million
At number 9…
Roy Orbison – ‘Oh, Pretty Woman’ (1965)
Estimated earnings: $19.75 million
At number 8…
The Police – ‘Every Breath You Take’ (1983)
Estimated earnings: $20.5 million
At number 7…
Haven Gillespie & Fred J Coots – ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’ (1934)
Estimated earnings: $25 million
At number 6…
ADVERTISEMENTBen E King, Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller – ‘Stand By Me’ (1961)
Estimated earnings: $27 million
At number 5…
Alex North & Hy Zaret – ‘Unchained Melody’ (1955)
Estimated earnings: $27.5 million
ADVERTISEMENTAt number 4…
John Lennon and Paul McCartney – ‘Yesterday’ (1965)
Estimated earnings: $30 million
At number 3…
Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil and Phil Specter – ‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ (1964)
ADVERTISEMENTEstimated earnings: $32 million
At number 2…
Irving Berlin – ‘White Christmas’ (1940)
Estimated earnings: $36 million
At number 1…
ADVERTISEMENTHill Sisters – ‘Happy Birthday to You’ (Good morning to all) (1893)
Estimated earnings: $50 million