The family of the late king of folk music, Šaban Šaulić, continues to earn significant income from digital rights to his songs. According to data from the Business Registers Agency, in 2024 they earned around 67,000 euros solely from streaming on platforms such as YouTube, Spotify, and Deezer. These earnings have been increasing year by year, confirming the lasting popularity and artistic value of Šaulić’s work. Additionally, the family receives royalties for performance rights, although these figures are not publicly available. In a broader context, posthumous earnings of famous musicians are common, and Šaban Šaulić is unique in this region for the continued revenue his works generate. Also, music scene members like Ceca Ražnatović, Aleksandra Prijović, and Tea Tairović earn high incomes from concerts and music rights, while Milica Pavlović reports losses despite her popularity.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning outlets emphasize the cultural and artistic legacy of Šaban Šaulić, highlighting how his music continues to enrich the cultural heritage and provide financial stability to his family. They may also focus on the importance of fair compensation for artists and their families in the digital age.
Center: Center-leaning sources report the facts about the earnings from digital rights, presenting a balanced view of the financial aspects of the music industry posthumously. They highlight the growing trend of digital streaming revenues and the economic impact on artists’ estates without strong ideological framing.
Right: Right-leaning media might emphasize the entrepreneurial aspect of the Šaulić family managing to capitalize on digital rights, portraying it as a success story of legacy preservation and smart business. They may also highlight the importance of intellectual property rights and the benefits of a free market in the music industry.
