Massive Attack

Overview

Massive Attack built one of the most commercially durable trip-hop catalogs, with songs that continue to earn through streaming, sync use, and mood-driven listening.

• Genre: Trip-Hop / Electronic / Downtempo
• Country: United Kingdom
• Active since: 1988

Short Answer

Yes — estimated $1M-$4M/year.

Sources

• Teardrop and Unfinished Sympathy still stream at strong long-tail catalog scale.
• Trip-hop's cinematic usefulness keeps the catalog sync-friendly.
• Writer-side participation strengthens retained value across key recordings.

Estimated Artist-Side Annual Earnings

• $1M-$4M/year

Revenue Breakdown

• Estimated gross catalog revenue: $2M-$5M/year
• Estimated artist or estate cut: $1M-$4M/year
• Estimated label share: $350K-$1.3M/year
• Estimated publisher share: $180K-$650K/year
• Estimated writer share: $220K-$750K/year
• Assumptions: Estimate assumes durable streaming around key trip-hop staples, substantial sync utility, and meaningful writer-side participation.

Ownership and Catalog Status

• Masters: Likely split between label-controlled masters and artist royalty participation
• Publishing: Publishing appears materially tied to writer-side participation
• Catalog sale status: No major catalog sale adjustment is assumed here
• Notes: Trip-hop catalogs often outperform their niche genre status because they remain highly usable in visual media.

Top Songs

• Teardrop · Mezzanine · 1998
• Unfinished Sympathy · Blue Lines · 1991

Revenue Strategy

• catalog streaming
• sync licensing
• playlist longevity
• cross-generational discovery

Key Career Highlights

• Known for: Trip-hop canon status, cinematic catalog value, and long-tail sync relevance.
• Highlight: Teardrop and Unfinished Sympathy remain foundational tracks for both streaming-era discovery and media placement.

Insight

Catalogs with strong atmosphere and sync value often outperform their niche genre label.