If you were to ask composer and musician Mark Mothersbaugh about his biggest money-making song in his nearly 50-year career, he probably wouldn’t have mentioned “Uncontrollable Urge.” Currently, the 74-year-old musician earns $1 million annually in royalties from just that one song, which he wrote in 1978 as a member of Devo.
Mothersbaugh has composed music for popular TV shows like “The Fairly OddParents” and “Rugrats,” as well as hit movies like “Thor: Ragnarok” and “The Lego Movie.” However, it was the theme song for the MTV comedy clip show Ridiculousness, featuring a cover of “Uncontrollable Urge,” that brought the song to fame. With over 1,500 episodes and more than 12 years on air, Ridiculousness has solidified “Uncontrollable Urge” as a theme song powerhouse.
Despite the song’s unexpected success, Mothersbaugh remains surprised by its popularity. He never anticipated that this particular track would become his primary source of income. “Uncontrollable Urge” was Devo’s first song off their debut album, but it was never released as a single and has only earned $150,000 from Spotify streaming royalties.
Theme songs, in general, can be incredibly lucrative for musicians. Ed Robertson, who penned the theme song for “The Big Bang Theory,” has earned between seven to ten figures in total royalties for that one song. Similarly, Marco Jacobo, the creator of the theme song for “Abbott Elementary,” has made six figures since the show’s debut in 2021.
Not only are TV show theme songs profitable, but TV advertisement jingles can also bring in substantial earnings. David Paton, one of the songwriters behind the hit “Magic,” earns seven figures from its use in a TV ad for Ozempic. Overall, network TV pays significantly more per minute for music compared to streaming services like Spotify.
In conclusion, while music for TV shows and movies may bring in steady income, it’s the unexpected hits like theme songs that can truly skyrocket a musician’s earnings.
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