Former front man, Ian Watkins, may earn up to £100,00 in royalties from Lostprophets music, since he was charged last year. Despite being charged with two accounts of attempting to rape the baby of a female fan, sexually touching a one-year-old and possessing and making child abuse videos, the 36 year old’s music continues to be broadcast around the world therefore royalty payments will be received.
Music lawyer Craig Brookes recently addressed the topic of Watkins getting a cut of the fees generated. “The biggest income stream will almost certainly be publishing which, even if radio play has stopped, will still be pretty big,” he told Wales on Sunday.
“So you’re going to get money for plays in gyms and hairdressers and on juke boxes and all that stuff. They will say, ‘This is how much music is in the market place so it is likely you are due this amount.’ He will also get a publishing cut for any play Lostprophets have anywhere.” he continued.
“The records could be earning a substantial amount. It could easily have translated to 100,000 or 200,000 extra sales. It could be over £100,000 easily. It could be less, but there will be another spike when he gets sentenced, in terms of money generated – because of clips when the story breaks, then there will be a spike in online activity. And there are going to be PRS payments because the music is out there.”
Watkins and his two co-defendants are expected to be sentenced before 2pm today.
