I recently read about an artist who:
• Is reportedly worth $150M
• Has a higher net worth than Adele
• Sold more records than One Direction
• Only left her house 2x in the last decade
Her story is intriguing, let’s see if you know who I’m talking about:
You might not know who Enya is off the top of your head.
But you will after I tell you this is her:
youtube.com/watch?v=LTrk4X…
But you will after I tell you this is her:
youtube.com/watch?v=LTrk4X…
Enya got a bit of “the Kate Bush treatment.”
Aka, her 80s songs got re-introduced to Gen Z via viral TikTok sounds.
You’ll find Orinoco Flow accompanying such videos as this inflatable snowman sailing away:
Aka, her 80s songs got re-introduced to Gen Z via viral TikTok sounds.
You’ll find Orinoco Flow accompanying such videos as this inflatable snowman sailing away:
VIDEO
But where she differs from Kate Bush?
Enya has almost 4x more money.
And here’s the oddest part…
Throughout her whole career, she's NEVER toured.
Which is the top revenue stream for the vast majority of musical artists.
Enya has almost 4x more money.
And here’s the oddest part…
Throughout her whole career, she's NEVER toured.
Which is the top revenue stream for the vast majority of musical artists.
So why doesn't she tour?
Enya claims it would be nearly impossible to recreate her complicated sound live.
Which may be true.
But the more likely answer?
Enya claims it would be nearly impossible to recreate her complicated sound live.
Which may be true.
But the more likely answer?
She’s a total recluse:
• Hates live performances & interviews
• Had some TERRIBLE stalker issues throughout her career
So, she lives in a castle in Ireland with her cats and a handful of staff.
She doesn’t leave, doesn’t respond to fan mail, and doesn’t often see family.
• Hates live performances & interviews
• Had some TERRIBLE stalker issues throughout her career
So, she lives in a castle in Ireland with her cats and a handful of staff.
She doesn’t leave, doesn’t respond to fan mail, and doesn’t often see family.
It gets even more peculiar. She:
• Refuses to listen to any other music, to keep hers pure & original
• Sings in English & Gaelic, plus 3 totally made-up languages
• Never married: “Falling madly in love & getting married would be the most horrific thing that could happen.”
• Refuses to listen to any other music, to keep hers pure & original
• Sings in English & Gaelic, plus 3 totally made-up languages
• Never married: “Falling madly in love & getting married would be the most horrific thing that could happen.”
But this begs the question:
If she doesn't tour, doesn't leave the house, and hasn't had a hit song since the early 2000s...
How did she make $150M?
If she doesn't tour, doesn't leave the house, and hasn't had a hit song since the early 2000s...
How did she make $150M?
She’s sold over 75 million albums worldwide, but that’s not the whole story.
The bulk of her wealth came from 1 song (and more importantly, who used it…)
youtube.com/watch?v=7wfYIM…
The bulk of her wealth came from 1 song (and more importantly, who used it…)
youtube.com/watch?v=7wfYIM…
“Only Time” was used commercially in:
• A 2002 episode of Friends
• A 2013 Volvo commercial
• Deadpool 2 in 2018
• The 2022 Thor movie
• A mac & cheese commercial 4yrs ago
• Plus sports games, memes, & more
She gets royalty money from these.
• A 2002 episode of Friends
• A 2013 Volvo commercial
• Deadpool 2 in 2018
• The 2022 Thor movie
• A mac & cheese commercial 4yrs ago
• Plus sports games, memes, & more
She gets royalty money from these.
But the real legacy behind this song:
CNN and other US news outlets used "Only Time" for 9/11 footage in 2001.
Enya’s response? To release it as a charity single.
She donated the $461k made to NY's firefighter charities.
CNN and other US news outlets used "Only Time" for 9/11 footage in 2001.
Enya’s response? To release it as a charity single.
She donated the $461k made to NY's firefighter charities.
She’s no doubt an odd lady, but I respect her: She built her success with obsession.
Once when asked about her love life, she said:
“I had partners. But I’m too much devoted to my music. Some people think it sounds sad but believe me, I’m happy. I am my music.”
Once when asked about her love life, she said:
“I had partners. But I’m too much devoted to my music. Some people think it sounds sad but believe me, I’m happy. I am my music.”
The lesson I take?
Obsession comes with sacrifices.
Few will understand.
Is it worth it for you?
If it is, obsessing = success
Obsession comes with sacrifices.
Few will understand.
Is it worth it for you?
If it is, obsessing = success
So that’s the story of the richest woman in Irish & British music.
I’ll leave you with her contrarian quote:
“My private lifestyle bothers a lot of people. I don’t like anybody else’s opinion. It’s not a hanging offence not wanting to go to nightclubs. What happened to choice?”
I’ll leave you with her contrarian quote:
“My private lifestyle bothers a lot of people. I don’t like anybody else’s opinion. It’s not a hanging offence not wanting to go to nightclubs. What happened to choice?”
Follow me @Codie_Sanchez if you haven't, and feel free to repost this here:
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For more hard truths from those who are in the game, read this:
contrarianthinking.biz/tw
contrarianthinking.biz/tw
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