Royalty Streams and Copyright Infringement

Can a hit single from four decades ago still pay the bills? Zachary Crockett f-f-f-finds out.

RESOURCES:

• "The Knack Sue Run-DMC Over 'It’s Tricky' Riff," (Rolling Stone, 2006).
• Clip of "My Sharona" in the film Reality Bites (1994).
• "The Knack: Where Are They Now?" by David Fricke (Rolling Stone, 1986).
• "Top Singles of the Year," (Billboard, 1979).
• "My Bologna," by Weird Al Yankovic (1979).
• "My Sharona," by The Knack (1979).

EXTRAS:

• "What’s Wrong with Being a One-Hit Wonder?" by Freakonomics Radio (2023).

SOURCES:

• Sharona Alperin, real-estate agent and namesake of the 1979 hit-single "My Sharona."
• Berton Averre, lead guitarist and co-writer in musical group The Knack.
• Michael Closter, founder and president of Reach Music.