Joni Mitchell Makes A Fortune From 'Both Sides, Now' Despite It Being Released Decades Ago

Summary

• Joni Mitchell's song "Both Sides, Now" has contributed to her fortune and is still beloved by fans after over fifty years.
• Mitchell's business savvy and ownership of her catalog have played a significant role in her net worth, which is reportedly $150 million.
• Mitchell's decision to remove her music from Spotify in 2022 was due to a political controversy.

Music icon Joni Mitchell has had an undeniable presence in the industry since she rose to fame in the 1960s. Finding her niche in the folk-inspired singer-songwriter scene, Mitchell crafted some of the most prolific songs of her era. Perhaps one of her most beloved compositions is "Both Sides, Now", which she released in 1969.

On February 4th, 2024, Mitchell made history and performed at the Grammy Awards for the first time in her career, according to CNN. She chose to sing "Both Sides, Now" and her emotional performance not only led to rave reviews, but a standing ovation from her peers. Mitchell still earns a fortune from a song she wrote over fifty years ago and this is a strong testament to her unwavering legacy.

How Has 'Both Sides, Now' Earned Joni Mitchell A Fortune?

Joni Mitchell is not only a popular singer, but a talented and celebrated songwriter. Furthermore, she helped pave the way for modern women superstars such as Taylor Swift with her strategic business sense. According to Heavy, Mitchell owns her entire catalog, including master recordings and publishing rights.

Furthermore, Celebrity Net Worth reported that she "self-produced every single one of her albums." Due to Mitchell's business savvy, she is allegedly worth $150 million.

Some of Mitchell's compositions, including "Both Sides, Now", "Chelsea Morning", "Big Yellow Taxi", and "Woodstock", have become timeless classics. More so, they have been covered by artists such as Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young, Amy Grant, Dion DiMucci, Paul Young, and Counting Crows. Mitchell reportedly earns significant money when others record her songs, due to her ownership of them.

How much Mitchell has earned solely from "Both Sides, Now" cannot be determined due to limited information on the subject. However, it can be assumed that the song has contributed to her net worth. Not only does "Both Sides, Now" likely receive many streams from fans young and old, but the song has probably increased sales of "Clouds", the album it is on. Furthermore, "Both Sides, Now" has been covered by other notable artists since its release in 1969.

Mitchell's 2024 Grammy performance will probably increase "Both Sides, Now"'s relevance. The song was introduced to a new generation. "Both Sides, Now", while never forgotten, was publicly recognized again in a massive way. While modern artists such as Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish were celebrated, so were living legends, including Mitchell and Billy Joel. Mitchell's unforgettable performance left an impression on Grammy attendees and viewers around the world.

Mitchell's 2024 Grammy appearance was not the only time she was honored in the 2020s. She was a Kennedy Center Honors recipient in 2021, according to udiscovermusic. In 2022, Mitchell was recognized as the MusiCares Person of the Year. Additionally, in 2022, Mitchell gave a praised performance at the Newport Folk Festival, her first time performing in years due to immense health struggles. The legendary artist suffered a brain aneurysm in 2015 and almost lost her life, according to Time Magazine. With years of treatment, Mitchell gracefully returned to the stage and surprised a legion of fans. Mitchell also suffered from polio as a child, and has spoken publicly about her battle, similarly to Neil Young.

Mitchell's unexpected comeback has given her a resurgence and most likely has increased her net worth. Interestingly, however, Mitchell made a profound business move in 2022 that has made her music less accessible.

Why Is Joni Mitchell's Music Not On Spotify?

Joni Mitchell's busy savvy has never compromised her values and morals. Despite Spotify being one of the most popular streaming services in the world, Mitchell chose to remove a majority of her catalog from the platform in January 2022, according to The Verge.

The reason behind Mitchell's decision was political in nature. Spotify had chosen to keep a controversial podcast on its platform and this upset numerous artists, including Neil Young and Mitchell. The podcast, in particular, discussed the controversies surrounding the COVID-19 vaccinations. The iconic singer and songwriter spoke candidly about her decision in a public statement:

"I've decided to remove all my music from Spotify. Irresponsible people are spreading lies that are costing people their lives. I stand in solidarity with Neil Young and the global scientific and medical communities on this issue."

While Mitchell claimed she would remove all of her catalog from the streaming platform, this is not the case. Her most celebrated albums, such as "Blue" and "Clouds" are indeed absent from the service. However, a live album entitled "Joni Mitchell: Live at BBC, 9 October 1970" has remained on Spotify as of February 2024. While Mitchell's core catalog is not on Spotify, fans can find her acclaimed albums on Apple Music and Amazon Music, among other platforms.

Mitchell's relationship with Spotify is far from the only feud Mitchell has had in her career. She allegedly had a massive feud with John Lennon of the Beatles after he gave her surprising and insulting career advice.

Joni Mitchell has enjoyed an impressive and long career, and fortunately, is still being recognized and honored as one of the greatest artists in history. She is a trailblazing artist that helped laid the groundwork for modern icons. Her music has stood the test of time and remains beloved by fans of all ages. Her historic 2024 Grammy performance has only solidified her lasting legacy.