Greetings Everyone .! Hope you are all doing well .
So You all probably know Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know." Released in 2011, the song topped charts in 23 countries and has been streamed billions of times.
When Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know" exploded onto the global music scene in 2011, it became an instant cultural phenomenon. The haunting melody, distinctive xylophone notes, and that unforgettable guitar riff captured audiences worldwide. But here's the shocking part: Gotye (real name Wally De Backer) didn't get rich from it.
“I’m not interested in selling my music,” Gotye, whose real name is Wally De Backer, said. “That’s the reason I don’t put ads on my YouTube channel, which seems strange to people in today’s climate, but that is a decision you can make. I’m like that with all my music. I generally never want to sync my music for products.”
The Sample Situation
- The main guitar riff isn't original - it's sampled from Luiz Bonfá's 1967 song "Seville" .Because of this sample, Gotye has to pay royalties to Bonfá's estate almost 45% royalties .
- He only owns a portion of his biggest hit due to the sample rights .
The YouTube Money
- The music video has over 2.3 billion views on YouTube and
Gotye refused to put ads on the video - A typical monetized video with that many views could earn $10-20 million from ads alone
- He never changed this decision, even as the views kept climbing .
Free Use Policy
- Gotye let people use the song freely in many cases
- He allowed covers without demanding payment
- The song was used in many TV shows, videos, and parodies
- Walk Off The Earth's famous five-people-one-guitar cover got 190 million views
- The song was used in "Glee" and countless other shows .
What Gotye Says
- He once told the press: "I'm not interested in selling my music"
- Refused to make a follow-up album to cash in on his fame
- Went back to playing with his band The Basics
- Has said he's happy with his decisions
Today
- Gotye hasn't released a solo album since "Making Mirrors" (2011)
- He still makes music with his band
- The song continues to earn money for streaming platforms and Bonfá's estate
- He's become known as an artist who chose integrity over profit .
This might be one of the few cases where a global #1 hit didn't make its main artist a fortune. While streaming services, record labels, and rights holders profited hugely from "Somebody That I Used to Know," Gotye's decisions kept him from maximizing his earnings. Yet he seems perfectly fine with that - proving sometimes artistic integrity means more than money.
