‘The children don’t need $500 million’: Mick Jagger says charity may get Rolling Stones catalog
Rolling Stones "Hackney Diamonds" FILE PHOTO: Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards pose for photographs during the Rolling Stones "Hackney Diamonds" press conference at Hackney Empire on September 06, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images) (Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
By Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
As more and more artists sell their vast catalogs of music, one legendary band’s frontman said they will not be following the crowd.
ABC News reported that Bruce Springsteen sold his for a reported $500 million to Sony in 2021. Justin Bieber sold his music for $200 million. So did Neil Young, Justin Timberlake and John Legend, making millions upon millions of dollars.
But the Rolling Stones aren’t going to, at least according to Mick Jagger.
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Jagger was asked if the band would sell its post-1971 catalog.
He said no.
“The children don’t need $500 million to live well. Come on,” he said, suggesting that the music library could go to a charity.
US Weekly reported that Jagger owns only the Stones’ music from after 1971, since the band’s former accountant Allan Klein has the copyrights for earlier tunes including “Paint It Black” and “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” When Klein and the Stones split, Klein kept ownership of the music while Jagger and Keith Richards got royalties. Klein died in 2009 and his company, ABKCO Music & Records, retained the rights.
Jagger, 80, is the father of eight children: Karis, 52; Jade, 51; Elizabeth, 39; Georgia May, 31; James 38, Gabriel, 25; Lucas, 24; and Deveraux, 6, People magazine reported.
The Rolling Stones, despite being in their 70s and 80s, are still producing music. They are releasing their first new album in nearly 20 years next month, Sky News reported. They recently released the lead single, “Angry.”
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years Here are some memorable photos of Rolling Stones rocker Mick Jagger through the years. (AP Photo, file)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 1951: A school photo of a 9-year-old Mick Jagger at Wentworth Junior County Primary School in his home town Dartford in 1951. (Stones Archive/Getty Images)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 1964: The British rock and roll group The Rolling Stones at the Variety Club Luncheon, at the Savoy Hotel, London, Sept. 10, 1964. (AP Photo/Staff/Bob Dear)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 1965: British rock and roll group The Rolling Stones arrive at Montreal Airport, April 22, 1965. (AP Photo)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 1967: Mick Jagger, lead singer of the British rock band The Rolling Stones makes a point as he gestures with his hand during a press conference he organized at the Granada studios in London on July 31, 1967. (AP Photo/Rider)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 1968: Rolling Stone Mick Jagger relaxes with a guitar in a London dressing room in 1968. (AP Photo/Robert Dear)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 1969: Mick Jagger, 25, lead singer of the Rolling Stones pop group, and actress Marianne Faithfull, 22, in London on May 29, 1969, after police arrested them at a house in Chelsea, London. (AP Photo/Peter Kemp)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 1971: Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger, left, is shown with his new bride Bianca Perez-Mora Macias, during their wedding at Sainte-Anne chapel, May 12, 1971, Saint Tropez, France. (AP Photo)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 1976: Mick Jagger singing in The Rolling Stones at the Frankfurt concert hall, Germany around April 28, 1976, where the famous British rook group started their longest ever concert tour, leading them around the globe. (AP Photo)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 1979: Edward James Olmos, "The Pachuce," star of "Zoot Suit," Mick Jagger and Danny Valdez visit backstage at Wintergarden Theatre in New York on March 23, 1979. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 1981: British rock star Mick Jagger during his concert in Philadelphia, during The Rolling Stones tour of America, around September 1981. (AP Photo/Nancy Kaye)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 1982: Mick Jagger is shown on April 30, 1982. (AP Photo)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 1983: Rock musician Mick Jagger, right, is shown with pregnant girlfriend Jerry Hall on the beach, Dec. 5, 1983, St. Peter, Barbados. (AP Photo/Paul Benoit)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 1985: Tina Turner, left, reacts as Mick Jagger grabs her thigh during their duo performance at the Live Aid concert in Philadelphia on July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 1988: Singer Mick Jagger clowns around with girlfriend Jerry Hall backstage at her debut as "Cherie" in the Theatre East production of William Inge play "Bustop" on July 26, 1988, in the Montclair State College campus, in New Jersey. (AP Photo/Susan Ragan)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 1997: The Rolling Stones' lead singer Mick Jagger performs to a sold-out crowd during the Stones performance at the Ohio Stadium on Saturday, September 27, 1997, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Mark Hall)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 2002: Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger performs during the opening night of their U.S. tour in Boston on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2002. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 2003: Singer Mick Jagger Performs at the opening night of the European leg of The Rolling Stones Forty Licks Tour at the Olimpiahalle Spiridon on June 4, 2003, in Munich, Germany. (Getty Images)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 2004: Actors Jude Law and Mick Jagger attend the New York Premiere of "Alfie" at The Ziegfeld Theatre on October 18, 2004, in New York City. (Evan Agostini/Getty Images)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 2005: Charlie Watts, Mick Jagger, Ron Wood and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones pose for a photo during a press conference to announce a world tour at the Julliard Music School on May 10, 2005, in New York City. (Scott Gries/Getty Images)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 2006: Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones performs during a concert at Saitama Super Arena on April 2, 2006, in Saitama, Japan. (Junko Kimura/Getty Images)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 2007: Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones performs at the Isle of Wight Festival 2007, at Seaclose Park, Newport, on June 8, 2007, on the Isle Wight, England. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 2008: The Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger and L'Wren Scott attend the premiere of "Shine a Light" at the Odeon Leicester Square on April 2, 2008, in London. (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 2009: Fergie of Black Eyed Peas and Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones perform with U2 onstage at the 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Concert at Madison Square Garden on October 30, 2009, in New York City. (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 2010: Musician Mick Jagger and designer L'Wren Scott attend the Costume Institute Gala Benefit to celebrate the opening of the "American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity" exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 3, 2010, in New York City. (Larry Busacca/Getty Images)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 2011: Designer L'Wren Scott and singer Mick Jagger arrive at the Vanity Fair Oscar party hosted by Graydon Carter held at Sunset Tower on February 27, 2011, in West Hollywood, California. (Craig Barritt/Getty Images)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 2012: Charlie Watts, Keith Richards and Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones perform live at 02 Arena on November 25, 2012, in London. (Ian Gavan/Getty Images)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 2013: Singer Dave Grohl and Mick Jagger perform at the "Rolling Stones 50 & Counting Tour" at The Honda Center on May 15, 2013, in Anaheim, California. (Mark Davis/Getty Images for AEG)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 2014: Lead Singer Mick Jagger in action as The Rolling Stones perform live at Mount Smart Stadium on November 22, 2014, in Auckland, New Zealand. (Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 2015: Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones performs at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 4, 2015, in Indianapolis. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 2016: Musician Keith Richards, singer Mick Jagger and musician Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones perform during Desert Trip at the Empire Polo Field on October 14, 2016, in Indio, California. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 2018: Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones performs live on stage on the opening night of the european leg of their No Filter tour at Croke Park on May 17, 2018, in Dublin, Ireland. (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 2019: Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones perform onstage at Hard Rock Stadium on August 30, 2019, in Miami. (Rich Fury/Getty Images)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 2021: Singer Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones performs during a stop of the band's No Filter tour at Allegiant Stadium on November 6, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 2022: Mick Jagger, center, Ronnie Wood, left, and Keith Richards, right, of the band the Rolling Stones, perform during their Sixty Stones Europe 2022 tour at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, June 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Photos: Mick Jagger through the years 2023: Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards pose for photographs during the Rolling Stones "Hackney Diamonds" press conference at Hackney Empire on September 06, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images) (Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)