How Much Does It Cost To Make A Hit Song?

Blog Post #1

Below I embedded a report NPR did to breakdown how a hit song is made and pretty much explains how supergroup TLC (pictured below) wound up bankrupt.

TLC

TLC's album CrazySexyCool eventually sold over 11 million copies in the US, and became one of the first albums to ever receive a diamond certification from the RIAA, and won a 1996 Grammy Award for Best R&B Album and a 1996 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group for "Creep". However, in the midst of their apparent success, the members of TLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on July 3, 1995.

They declared debts totaling 3.5 million dollars, much of it because of insurance payments, medical bills, but the primary reason being that each member of the group was taking home less than $35,000 a year after paying managers, producers, expenses, and taxes. (Info from Wikipedia)

In the graphic below NPR put together the costs involved to put together a mainstream album.


graphical breakdown of expenses


The below podcast details how Rihanna's album was put together and her the cost to the record label with her single 'Man Down' (pictured below) used as an example.


Rihanna's single artwork