Black Hole Sun

Artist

Soundgarden

Listen

Official Apple Music preview.

Meaning

Black Hole Sun survives because its surreal writing and huge chorus still feel distinctive inside rock catalog listening.

Short Answer

Estimated artist-side annual earnings: $400K-$1M/year.

Estimated Artist-Side Annual Earnings

• $400K-$1M/year

Revenue Breakdown

• Estimated gross track revenue: $900K-$2M/year
• Estimated artist-side cut: $400K-$1M/year
• Estimated label master share: $220K-$600K/year
• Estimated publishing share: $100K-$300K/year
• Estimated songwriter share: $120K-$350K/year
• Assumptions: Estimate assumes strong cross-generational rock streaming, sync familiarity, and songwriter-side participation.

Ownership and Catalog Status

• Masters: Likely legacy label-controlled masters with royalty participation
• Publishing: Publishing value appears tied to songwriter-side rights
• Catalog sale status: No sale assumption baked in
• Notes: For major 1990s rock recordings, the artist-side share can be materially lower than gross listener demand suggests.

Lifetime Earnings

The strongest catalog songs can continue to earn for many years if they remain easy to place, easy to remember, and easy to replay.

Why It Still Makes Money

• It remains Soundgarden's most recognizable crossover hit.
• Grunge nostalgia and rock editorial playlists keep streams active.
• The song's iconic video and chorus support long-term cultural recall.

Insight

Soundgarden benefits when one recording stays useful across streaming, memory, and licensing contexts long after the release campaign ends.

Related Songs

• Fell on Black Days
• Outshined

Methodology

These earnings figures are editorial estimates based on streaming scale, ownership context, and long-tail catalog behavior. Read the full methodology.