Harlem Shake Musician claims to have earned no money from Internet Sensation

Harlem Shake Paris

The music producer/musician who wrote Harlem Shake, a song that became an Internet sensation and participatory video phenomenon across U.S. colleges, including here at Texas State, claims to have made no money from the deal- at least directly. The Brooklyn based producer who goes by the name of Baauer failed to clear two of the samples used in the song but cleared up claims of copyright infringement as of April.  The most interesting aspect of this story is what it confirms – yes, its hard to make money in the music business but  – he can’t complain too much since he is booked full time now for gigs – so in away he did make some money from the song.  Check out the great infographic as well and read more here from The Atlantic.

Also, revisit an earlier post from the Roundup on how a musician from the 19th Century still did well despite everyone playing his song for “free”.