Why Family Offices Should Invest in Music Publishing: A High-Yield Alternative Asset Class

Music royalties generate recurring revenue and long-term appreciation- how do they compare to other alternative investments?

Before I got into the investment world, I was a punk rock promoter. In the mid-90s, I booked about 100 shows in Palo Alto and Madison, WI, including early performances from Elliott Smith, Sleater-Kinney, and Alkaline Trio.

Back then, I made money by selling tickets - I never ever took a cut of merchandise. That was considered totally uncool. Today, I see the real value in owning the rights to the music itself, because royalties never stop flowing. (My college housemate and concert promotion business partner Scott became the manager of Panic! At The Disco, Fall Out Boy and Green Day and started probably the best rock management company in the business - ‘95-‘99 was a really exciting time to be in the punk scene).

Many family offices are seeking recurring revenue outside of traditional real estate and private equity deals. Music publishing is an overlooked alternati…