Wealth Culture
Prince Put Music Before Money. His Estate Is Ready to Cash In
- Estate handlers operate under court mandate to arrange deals
- Accords will remain valid regardless of who finally takes over
During a career spanning almost four decades, Prince broke with his record label, changed his name and yanked his songs off popular streaming services to prove a point: No one could tell him what to do with his music.
Though the impulse to control his catalog inspired fellow artists, it limited Prince’s exposure and hurt the value of his music. Now, because he failed to leave a will, his wishes are taking a backseat. His estate, represented by music industry veteran Charles A. Koppelman and entertainment lawyer L. Londell McMillan, is racing under a court mandate to get the most from a catalog of about 1,000 songs including “Purple Rain’’ and “When Doves Cry.’’