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Stairway to Heaven is Worth $572 million

Wednesday, June 18, 2008 | 07:30 PM

Portfolio does a fun analysis as to what the full value of Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven would be worth if the band went all out on the licensing side.

They call it a"back-of-the-napkin analysis of the lifetime worth of the most requested rock tune in history:"

"In the big, bad game of rock and roll, “Stairway to Heaven” is undeniably a winner. Released by Led Zeppelin in 1971, the eight-minute song is considered a musical masterpiece and is one of the most-played rock tunes of all time. Proving its longevity, “Stairway” hit the U.K. charts again last fall and was a top download in the U.S., after Zeppelin’s first downloadable album launched on iTunes. But because the band is notoriously protective of its work, “Stairway” hasn’t met its full moneymaking potential. While other artists have made big bucks by licensing songs to Hollywood and Madison Avenue—think of Bob Dylan’s “Love Sick” in that Victoria’s Secret commercial—Zeppelin has shunned most opportunities. We consulted executives in the music, advertising, and entertainment industries to come up with some numbers, real and potential, for the value of “Stairway."

That seems a little rich to me, but hey! It is Stairway. . .

Sources:
Stairway Surprise
Miriam Datskovsky
Portfolio July 2008 Issue http://www.portfolio.com/culture-lifestyle/culture-inc/arts/2008/06/16/Stairway-to-Heavens-Revenues

Led Zeppelin IV (aka ZOSO)
November 8, 1971

Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones on Stairway to Heaven
http://rhino.edgeboss.net/download/rhino/ledzeppelin/discography/lz4_stairway.mp3

Led Zeppelin to Make Its Songs Available Digitally
JEFF LEEDS
NYT, October 15, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/15/arts/music/15musi.html

Videos after the jump . . .