Australian music star Pete Murray has candidly discussed the sobering financial challenges facing artists in the age of music streaming, revealing a drastic 18-year drop in royalties despite past chart-topping success. The 56-year-old is now taking a bold step to regain control of his career, following a path famously charted by global pop icon Taylor Swift.
The Streaming Royalty Reality Check
Despite achieving three number-one albums and selling an impressive 1.2 million records throughout his career, Murray confessed that his musical achievements did not translate to consistent financial security. The singer explained that the majority of his earnings historically went to his former label, Sony, and other stakeholders. This issue was compounded by the paltry sums generated from streaming platforms, a stark contrast to the income once derived from CD and vinyl sales.
Murray recalled the initial windfall from his breakthrough album, Feeler, which required a minimal recording budget and subsequently 'went gangbusters'. "I remember getting a big pay check in the early days... and looking at the royalties and thinking 'This is great, if I can keep this up…'" he told news.com.au. "And then it stopped for 17 or 18 years." The stark reality hit home when a subsequent royalty payment amounted to a mere three thousand dollars.
Reclaiming Control: The Independent Route
Identifying a new path forward, Pete Murray is now reclaiming ownership of his master recordings as an independent artist. Inspired by Taylor Swift's highly publicised and successful battle to re-record her early catalogue, Murray hopes this strategic move will not only rejuvenate his career but also ensure he profits directly from his most iconic work.
His campaign has launched with the release of Better Days (Pete's Version), a freshly recorded take on his 2005 hit which originally peaked at number 13 on the ARIA Singles Chart. "I've done them my way, they're not exactly the same," he said of the new versions, noting he aimed to match the energy of his live performances.
A New Peak with 'Longing'
This push to revitalise his classic songs follows hot on the heels of a significant career milestone. His seventh studio album, Longing, released in October, became his first number-one record in 17 years. Celebrating on Instagram, Murray expressed his gratitude, highlighting the special nature of the achievement: "What makes this moment even more special is that this is my first fully independent album in 20 years."
He emphasised the difficulty of reaching the top of the charts as an independent artist, making the feat a "very special (and awesome!) thing." To capitalise on this momentum, Murray is taking The Longing Tour across Australia this summer, with scheduled stops in Newcastle, Sunshine Coast, and Frankston, among other locations.
By seizing ownership of his life's work, Pete Murray is fighting to rewrite the final chapter of his career, proving that artistic control and commercial success can go hand-in-hand, even decades after a debut.
