Song

Sultans of Swing

Dire Straits · Dire Straits · 1978

high confidence

artist-side split is modeled + gross track revenue is separated. Why?

The headline number is the modeled artist-side annual share for this recording when split data exists.

Modeled artist-side range $220K-$720K/year
Gross track revenue $638K-$2.1M/year
Ownership context Included below
Platform signals Listening links only
Last updated May 26, 2026
Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits

Short Answer

How much money does Sultans of Swing make?

Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits is modeled at $220K-$720K/year per year on the artist side, with gross track revenue and ownership context separated below.

Takeaway: Sultans of Swing is one of the stronger modeled catalog earners here because replay demand and ownership context both support a durable annual range.

This song holds value through a recognizable core riff or chorus, strong emotional payoff, and steady replay.

Did You Know?

  • Currently ranks around the top 42% of tracked songs by modeled artist-side earnings
  • Released in 1978 and still shows earnings power roughly 48 years later
  • Ranks #1 among 2 tracked songs for Dire Straits
  • 9 tracks on the linked album page
  • External listening links available
  • high confidence estimate

Why It Still Works

  • Classic replay value and catalog streaming keep major rock songs relevant.
  • Cultural familiarity supports long-tail listener demand.
  • Sync placements and live-culture recognition help extend the song's revenue life.

Sultans of Swing sits in the top 42% of tracked songs on the site by modeled artist-side earnings.

The song still reads as an evergreen catalog asset roughly 48 years after release.

Last updated: May 26, 2026

How It Compares

Sultans of Swing is compared against nearby songs in the catalog based on artist overlap, era, genre, and modeled earnings range.

Song Artist Estimated yearly midpoint
Sultans of Swing
current page
Dire Straits $470,000
Money for Nothing
same artist · same genre
Dire Straits $400,000
More Than a Feeling
same genre · same era
Boston $360,000
Peace of Mind
same genre · same era
Boston $195,000

Revenue Breakdown

Gross track revenue $638K-$2.1M/year
100% of the lead revenue lane
Artist-side share $220K-$720K/year
34% of the lead revenue lane
Label master share $209K-$684K/year
66% of the lead revenue lane

Bars reflect modeled annual midpoint ranges, not audited royalty statements.

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More Questions About Sultans of Swing

How much did Sultans of Swing make in total?

Sultans of Swing does not have a public lifetime total, so this page stays focused on modeled annual earnings instead of claiming an audited career total.

How much does Sultans of Swing make per stream?

Sultans of Swing does not have a single public per-stream rate because payouts vary by platform, territory, subscription tier, and contract structure. The estimate here is modeled from aggregate streaming, licensing, and catalog behavior instead.

Who owns Sultans of Swing?

Sultans of Swing is modeled from public-facing catalog behavior and conservative rights-split assumptions, not from audited royalty statements.

Show ownership and assumptions

Sultans of Swing is modeled from public-facing catalog behavior and conservative rights-split assumptions, not from audited royalty statements.

Supporting Revenue Context

Estimated gross track revenue$638K-$2.1M/year
Estimated artist-side cut$220K-$720K/year
Estimated label master share$209K-$684K/year
Estimated publishing share$66K-$216K/year
Estimated songwriter share$92K-$302K/year
MastersLikely controlled through the recording label or distributor unless a specific rights sale is known
PublishingWriter and publisher splits affect the publishing share shown here
Catalog sale statusNo specific catalog sale adjustment is modeled for this track

Assumptions: Estimate keeps the current headline range as the artist-side figure and models gross track, label, publishing, and songwriter lanes from that conservative annual range.

Notes: Sultans of Swing is modeled from public-facing catalog behavior and conservative rights-split assumptions, not from audited royalty statements.

Split-aware estimate

The headline number is the modeled artist-side annual share for this recording when split data exists.

  • Gross track revenue is separated from artist-side take-home where the page has enough split context.
  • Ownership notes on masters or publishing are included and should be read alongside the revenue number.
  • All figures are conservative annual modeled ranges based on streaming behavior, cultural replay value, sync potential, and available ownership information, not public royalty statements.

Read the full site methodology.

More Context

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