Who owns the royalties to Wham's Last Christmas?

The publishing rights for Wham!'s "Last Christmas" are owned by Warner Chappell Music. While the publishing rights are held by Warner Chappell, the annual royalties—estimated at £300,000—are largely donated to charitable causes by the estate of the song's writer and producer, the late George Michael.

Who gets the royalties from Last Christmas by Wham now?

Wham! donated their "Last Christmas" royalties to the Ethiopian famine relief fund, the same cause as Band Aid. It was the most-played Christmas song of the 21st century in the UK until 2011, when it was overtaken by "Fairytale of New York" (1987) by the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl.

Did George Michael leave royalties to Andrew Ridgeley?

George Michael's eye-watering royalties

While the estate rakes in millions from royalties, some are shared with former bandmate Andrew Ridgeley and George's god son, DJ Roman Kemp.

Does the royalties from Last Christmas still go to Band Aid?

Ronnie Campbell ALL the royalties from Last Christmas goes to The Band Aid Trust. Royalties from 'Careless Whisper" goes to Andrew Ridgley and Georges estate.

Where do George Michael's royalties go?

George Michael was a generous and fervent supporter of several charities, including ChildLine, the Terrence Higgins Trust and Macmillan Cancer Support, and it is understood that these organisations are to benefit substantially from his estate, in keeping with his lifelong philanthropy.

"We Expected Him To Die" Former Partner of George Michael On His Passing

Does Andrew Ridgeley get royalties from Wham songs?

Since 1982, he has reportedly amassed £10 million from sales and royalties of records. Although 'Careless Whisper' was a George Michael solo song, it was credited as being co-written by Andrew. He still receives thousands of pounds each year from his share of 'Careless Whisper' royalties alone.

How much did Kenny Goss inherit from George Michael?

Michael's estate was estimated to be worth just short of £100 million, with the majority of his estate being left to his siblings and various friends. The will left nothing to Michael's ex partners, including Kenny Goss.

Who makes the most royalties at Christmas songs?

Top 10 Christmas Music Earners

• Paul McCartney – Wonderful Christmas Time – £260,000 per year. ...
• Wham! ...
• Bing Crosby – White Christmas – £328,000 per year. ...
• Mariah Carey – All I Want for Christmas is You – £376,000 per year. ...
• The Pogues feat. ...
• Slade – Merry Christmas Everybody – £500,000 per year.

Does Bob Geldof get money from Band Aid?

And it's understandable that people in this day and age especially live in doubt when we're surrounded by a sea of lies and non-truths, that people will doubt that this is actually true... "But in 35 years, we have never received a penny, neither Bob nor I, from Band Aid or Live Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas? ...

Who owns the rights to George Michael's music?

The estate of George Michael has extended its global publishing agreement with Warner Chappell Music U.K. The deal covers Michael's solo work and songs from his time in Wham! The George Michael-Warner Chappell alignments dates back four decades, according to an announcement of the renewal.

Who got George Michael's inheritance?

George Michael left the bulk of his roughly £97 million estate to his two sisters, Yioda and Melanie Panayiotou, with his father receiving a horse stud farm, and friends and charities also inheriting portions, but nothing was left in the will to his ex-partners Kenny Goss or Fadi Fawaz, though Goss later settled a claim against the estate. His sisters received equal shares of the major assets, while The Mill Charitable Trust got artwork and antiques, and various friends received other shares, with Yioda deciding who among them received what. 

Why did Keren and Andrew split?

Andrew Ridgeley and Keren Woodward split because their relationship wasn't working, despite their strong affection and shared history, with Woodward moving to London and Ridgeley staying in Cornwall, confirming they'd gone their separate ways but remained amicable friends after 25 years together and a previous reconciliation.
 

Who makes more money at Christmas, Michael Bublé or Mariah Carey?

The study indicates Bublé has generated approximately £11.8 million from festive streams alone, cementing his status as the modern “King of Christmas.” He is followed closely by Mariah Carey, whose seasonal catalogue has raked in more than £8 million, and Ariana Grande in third place with £5.8 million.

Did Shirley make money from Wham?

Yes, Shirlie Holliman (part of Pepsi & Shirlie) made money from her time with Wham! as a paid backing vocalist, receiving regular performance fees, though she wasn't a band member and later formed her own duo, Pepsi & Shirlie, but she was also known for George Michael's extreme generosity, receiving significant financial help when struggling, showing his kindness extended beyond just band payments.
 

Who refused to play Live Aid?

Major artists who turned down or missed Live Aid in 1985 include Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Rod Stewart, Pink Floyd, Culture Club, and Def Leppard, with reasons ranging from studio work, tour exhaustion, substance abuse, logistical issues, or concerns over funding/coverage. Some, like George Harrison and Ringo Starr, avoided it fearing a premature Beatles reunion.

Do slade still get royalties from Merry Christmas?

Yes, Slade members, particularly songwriters Noddy Holder and Jim Lea, still earn substantial annual royalties from "Merry Xmas Everybody," which functions like a significant pension, with estimates suggesting £250,000 to over £1 million annually from streams, sales, and public performances. These ongoing earnings, a mix of performance and mechanical royalties, continue to add to their total earnings, which are well into the tens of millions, making it a lucrative long-term income source. 

Do artists get royalties every time a song is played?

These organizations track and report the usage of songs and distribute the corresponding royalties to rights holders on a regular basis, often quarterly or monthly. So, in most cases, royalties are indeed paid for each instance a song is played in a public or commercial setting.

How much does a noddy holder earn in royalties?

“It's like having a hit record every year. So it's a nice pension plan, I'll say that,” Holder smiles. The PRS has quoted £512,000 annually, but the Daily Mail reckons it's more like a cool £1m.

What's the biggest selling Christmas song ever?

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby is not only the best-selling Christmas single in the United States, but also the best-selling single of all time since the advent of recorded music, with estimated sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide.

What song made the most money in royalties?

2. The Top-Earning Songs of All Time (And Why)

• “Despacito” – Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee (2017) ...
• “Shape of You” – Ed Sheeran (2017) ...
• “Every Breath You Take” – The Police / Sting (1983) ...
• “Stand By Me” – Ben E. ...
• “White Christmas” – Bing Crosby (1942) ...
• “Yesterday” – The Beatles (1965)

Is mj still in debt?

Michael Jackson died in 2009 with more than $500 million in debt — but in the years since, his estate has pulled off one of the biggest financial turnarounds in pop-culture history.

How much did Paris Jackson inherit from Michael Jackson?

The attorneys, John Branca and John McClain, hit back at her on Oct. 9, revealing she “has received roughly $65 million from the Estate in benefits,” per documents obtained by E! News. Their point is that the Jackson estate was in $500 million of debt when the King of Pop passed away in July 2009.

What is Ed Sheeran's net worth?

Ed Sheeran's net worth is estimated to be around $350-$400 million as of late 2025, with figures varying slightly between sources, boosted by his successful "Mathematics Tour," music sales, and business ventures like Gingerbread Man Records and his properties, placing him among the UK's wealthiest young figures.