David Crosby explained in an interview with Guitar World the reason why he sold his songs catalogue in the beginning of 2021. He didn’t revealed the amount of money he received after the negotiation with Iconic Artists Group.
The deal included the music and publishing rights to Crosby’s solo work , Crosby & Nash, Crosby Stills and Nash, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and The Byrds.
David Crosby explains why he sold his songs catalogue:
“We had two ways of making money: touring and records. Streaming doesn’t pay us. It’s like you did your job for a month and they gave you a nickel. You’d be pissed. That’s why we are pissed – because they are making billions and not paying the people who are creating the music.”
“So I’m trying to be grateful that I can still play live and pay the rent and take care of my family. But along comes Covid and I can’t play live. That was it. Now I’m broke. I don’t want to lose my home, man.”
“We’ve got an old adobe house here in the middle of a cow pasture. It’s just fucking wonderful. A beautiful, beautiful place in the middle of a bunch of trees. It’s just lovely; it’s not fancy and it’s not rich and it’s not big, but it’s really right. We want to live here all our lives, so I sold my publishing.”
By the end of 2020, Crosby already revealed in his twitter that he was selling his song rights:
“I am selling mine also …I can’t work …and streaming stole my record money … So I have a family and a mortgage and I have to take care of them so it’s my only option ..I’m sure the others feel the same”.