Dirty Dancing’s "(I've Had) The Time of My Life"
This unique offering features royalties from Dirty Dancing’s Grammy-winning, iconic theme song "(I've Had) The Time of My Life," performed by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes.
The Theoretical IRR is a formulaic guideline based on an extrapolation of the normalized, historical earnings trend of the catalog. The Theoretical IRR is not a guarantee of future performance. It should be used for comparison purposes only. Each catalog has its own risk factors and the Theoretical IRR is not based upon a specific analysis of this catalog. Click here to view the basis for all Theoretical IRR calculations.
Historic royalty income is no indication of future royalty income. Future royalty income is dependent upon future sales and licensing revenue generated by the sound recordings or compositions associated with this listing.
| Starting Price: | $300,000 |
| Bidding Increment: | $4,500 |
| Closing Price: | $493,500 |
| End Date: | Dec 13, 2019, 3:00 PM MST |
| Dollar Age: | 29.88 Years |
| Last 12 Months' Royalties: | $47,088 |
| Investment Term: | Life of author + 70 years |
| Distributors: | ASCAP |
| Rights Included: | Public Performance |
| Interests Included: | Songwriter (World) |
| Track List: | |
| First Distribution (paid 30 days from receipt): | January 6, 2020 |
| Distribution Frequency: | Quarterly |
| Buyer Fees: | 1% of closing price or $500 (whichever is greater)‡ |
‡ Become a Royalty Exchange All Access Investor to waive auction fees and enjoy additional exclusive benefits.
What rights are included?
| Musical Composition | Sound Recording | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copyrights included? | No | — | ||||||
| Rights: |
|
|
||||||
| Sources: | Internet Streaming, AM/FM & Satellite Radio, TV/Film/Commercial Performances, etc. | Internet Streaming, Satellite Radio, Digital Downloads, CD Sales, TV/Film/Commercial Placements & Performances, Samples, etc. | ||||||
| Distributors: | ASCAP | — |
Description
Collecting royalties from an iconic theme song like this is very rare. So here’s your chance… the opportunity to own public performance royalties generated by Dirty Dancing’s immediately recognizable hit "(I've Had) The Time of My Life," performed by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes.
In fact, “iconic” might not be a strong enough term to describe the lasting relevance of this 30+ year-old song. Originally composed in 1987 for the film, “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” is one of the rare songs to transcend the movie it was written for and enter the cultural zeitgeist on its own power.
For starters, it’s won a number of awards, including:
- Academy Award for “Best Original Song”
- Golden Globe for "Best Original Song”
- Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
ASCAP named it one of its “Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures,” and the American Film Institute placed it No. 86 of the top 100 tunes in American cinema. Finally, the track was also a worldwide commercial hit, reaching No. 1 in five countries, including topping two Billboard charts.
What’s more, the song has maintained its relevance over 30 years later, inspiring dozens of covers/sample (including a rendition by Barry Manilow and The Black Eyed Peas), used in TV shows (Dancing With The Stars, Bob’s Burgers), used in TV ads (including a 2018 Super Bowl ad featuring Peyton Manning and Odell Beckham, Jr.), and even used in other movies (like the 2017 hit “Get Out.”).
Today, every time Dirty Dancing airs on TV or is streamed on-demand, a public performance royalty is generated for “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.” What’s more, it receives a higher royalty payout rate than other music in the movie because of its prominent placement featured throughout the film — including as the climactic final song.
Looking at the income mix, international royalties lead the way with 67% of last year’s revenue with these earnings growing 54% year-over-year. Foreign income includes radio, streaming platforms, TV/Film performances, and other international sources. The United Kingdom, Germany, and France are the leading contributors accounting for 42% of historical profits.
Impressively, 32 years after “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” was released, the song is still generating radio royalties — which increased 22% compared to the previous year. Domestic streaming income also grew 29% year-over-year.
In 2010, The Black Eyed Peas sampled the chorus in their multi-Platinum single "The Time (Dirty Bit)" (from the album The Beginning). As a result, the seller received a songwriting credit on “The Time (Dirty Bit)” and is also included in this offering. In the last 12 months, “The Time” brought in 11% of the catalog’s revenue.
Key Drivers
Dollar Age. This offering has a Dollar Age of 29.88 Years. “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” was released in 1987 and three decades after its release, the song is seeing growth. “The Time” was released nearly 10 years ago and income from the track is also growing. A high Dollar Age like this suggests stability, longevity and is worth noting as an investor. This can help sustain the asset’s earnings moving forward.
Continued Relevance. Dirty Dancing is widely considered one of the great sleeper hits in film history. When it was released in 1987, it was the first film to sell 1+ million copies for home video. The film’s soundtrack was wildly successful, selling over 32 million copies worldwide and is certified 11x Platinum. The theme song "(I've Had) The Time of My Life", won both the Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Grammy Award for best duet.
There have been stage shows, re-releases, remakes, and tours, since the film’s original release, indicating how fans still find the film (and its music) relevant. In fact, the Dirty Dancing is slated to air twice on E! Network this weekend.
TV/Film. This catalog benefits from “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” as the theme song in a popular, nostalgic film. Every time Dirty Dancing plays on TV or is streamed on-demand, a royalty is generated. 16% of last year’s revenue came from the film airing solely in the United States. The international income (that accounts for the majority of revenue) also includes TV/Film performances, although details are not provided.
Sampling. “The Time” from The Black Eyed Peas accounts for 19% the catalog’s total income. Because the group sampled the chorus from“(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life,” the songwriter (and thus the winning bidder) benefits by collecting royalties from performances of both works. Take a listen to the comparison between the two songs.
About the Royalty Distributor
American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is one of four United States performing rights organizations, along with BMI, SESAC & Global Music Rights. It collects license fees from music users on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed. For more information on ASCAP’s distribution schedule, click here.