Legendary musician and Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson passes away at 82, bequeathing a sprawling musical empire valued in millions.
Unfiltered Rewrite:
Farewell to Beach Boys Founder, Brian Wilson
Your favorite old-school pop tunes may never be the same, as the man behind the melodies, Brian Wilson, has passed away at the age of 82. Brian, co-founder of The Beach Boys, left an indelible mark on the music industry.
Born into a musical family, Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, along with cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine, formed The Beach Boys in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. Over time, the band expanded to include more members, including Bruce Johnston and David Marks.
Though the exact net worth during their heyday remains elusive, The Beach Boys remained a lucrative act. In 2022, Forbes ranked them among the highest-paid entertainers.
RIP BRIAN WILSON: LEGENDARY BEACH BOYS FOUNDER DEAD AT 82
In 1962, the Wilson brothers' father, and former manager, Murry Wilson, sold The Beach Boys' publishing company, Sea of Tunes, to A&M Records for a measly $700,000 per Rolling Stone. This company owned rights to hits like "Surfin' Safari" and "Good Vibrations." Brian didn't approve and sued both his father and A&M, seeking an eye-popping $100 million. The lawsuit was eventually settled out of court, with Brian receiving $25 million in damages.
Later, in 2021, the surviving Beach Boys members sold a considerable stake in their intellectual property, including master recordings, a portion of their publishing, the Beach Boys brand, and memorabilia, to Iconic Artist Group (IAG) for a cool $64 million. Although Brian reportedly retained some interest, he lost a significant portion of his stake.
CONSERVATORSHIP FOR BRIAN WILSON FOLLOWING DEMENTIA DIAGNOSIS
Despite the ups and downs in their financial ventures, The Beach Boys' impact is undeniable. The band has sold over 100 million records worldwide, chartered more than 80 songs worldwide with 36 reaching the U.S. Top 40—four of which reached the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100. Their album "Pet Sounds," released in 1966, ranks No. 2 on Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time." The band itself is ranked No. 12 on Rolling Stone's list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time." The Beach Boys were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and received the Recording Academy's Lifetime Achievement GRAMMY Award.
However, their road to success was not a smooth one. Love admitted in 2016 that the songs Murry sold in the '60s could have been worth at least $100 million by then. The bad deal allegedly led to a legal kerfuffle among the members and their managers. In the late '80s, Brian even sued A&M to reclaim copyrights, asking for another $100 million, though the case was settled out of court. A few years later, Love sued Brian over co-writing credit on dozens of songs.
Though no exact figure is public regarding their net worth, The Beach Boys continue to break records and generate wealth for their survivors. Rest in peace, Brian Wilson. Your music lives on.
TL;DR
Brian Wilson, co-founder of The Beach Boys, passed away at 82. The band was a commercial success, selling over 100 million records worldwide and racking up multiple U.S. Top 40 hits. However, their financial success was hampered by early sales of publishing rights and legal battles among members and managers. The Beach Boys' legacy and influence continue to resonate in the music industry.
- Despite legal struggles over the sale of their publishing rights in the 1960s, Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys amassed an impressive net worth, with their intellectual property being sold for a significant sum to Iconic Artist Group in 2021.
- The Beach Boys' music, a staple in old-school pop-culture, is a testament to their enduring impact on the entertainment industry, as evidenced by their ranks on Rolling Stone's lists of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" and the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time."
- In addition to his contributions to music, Brian Wilson's legal battles, such as his lawsuit against his father and A&M Records for $100 million in damages, mark him as a significant figure in pop-culture, particularly in discussions about celebrities, assets, and credit in the entertainment industry.
