Rick Rubin is one of the most influential and successful record producers in the history of music. He has worked with artists from various genres, such as hip hop, rock, metal, country, and pop. He is the co-founder of Def Jam Recordings, the founder of American Recordings, and the former co-president of Columbia Records. He has won nine Grammy Awards and has been named one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World” by Time magazine. As of 2023, Rick Rubin’s net worth is estimated to be $400 million.
How Rick Rubin Became Famous
His Early Life and Career
Rick Rubin was born in Long Beach, New York, on March 10, 1963. He grew up in Lido Beach, New York, and developed a passion for music at a young age. He started playing guitar and writing songs in high school, and formed a punk band called The Pricks. He also became interested in hip hop and learned how to produce beats from DJ Jazzy Jay.
He founded Def Jam Recordings in his dorm room at New York University in 1984, with the help of Russell Simmons, a concert promoter and artist manager. He produced the first single for Def Jam, “It’s Yours” by T La Rock, and soon signed other emerging hip hop artists, such as LL Cool J, Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, and Run-DMC. He also produced rock bands like The Cult and Slayer, and created a distinctive sound that blended rap and metal.
His Breakthrough Roles
Rick Rubin left Def Jam in 1988 and moved to Los Angeles, where he founded American Recordings. He continued to produce albums for various artists, such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, Nine Inch Nails, Metallica, and Jay-Z. He also expanded his musical horizons by working with country singers like Dwight Yoakam and The Chicks, pop stars like Adele and Ed Sheeran, and indie rockers like The Strokes and Weezer.
He became the co-president of Columbia Records in 2007, where he oversaw the careers of artists like Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Shakira, and Justin Timberlake. He also launched his own imprint label called Record Collection, which signed acts like Gogol Bordello, The Mars Volta, and Frank Ocean.
He left Columbia Records in 2012 and focused on his own projects. He launched a podcast called Broken Record in 2018, where he interviews musicians about their creative process. He also published his first book in 2023, called The Creative Act: A Way of Being.
How Rick Rubin Makes Money
His Salary as a Producer
Rick Rubin makes money by producing albums for various artists. He charges a fee for his services, which can range from $100,000 to $1 million per album. He also receives royalties from the sales of the albums he produces. He earns about $20 million per year from his production work.
His Catalog Rights
Rick Rubin also makes money by owning the rights to his production catalog. This means that he gets paid every time his songs are played on the radio, streamed online, or used in movies or TV shows. He also gets paid when other artists sample or cover his songs. He owns about 50% of his catalogue rights , which are worth about $200 million.
His Other Ventures
Rick Rubin also makes money by investing in other ventures. He has invested in companies like spotify, Headspace, Calm, Rumble Boxing, LyricFind, and Genius. He also owns a recording studio called Shangri-La in Malibu, where he hosts artists like Kanye West, Eminem, Lady Gaga, and Kendrick Lamar.
FAQ
What is Rick Rubin’s net worth?
Rick Rubin’s net worth is estimated to be $400 million as of 2023.
How much does Rick Rubin charge per album?
Rick Rubin charges between $100,000 and $1 million per album as a producer.
What are some of the albums that Rick Rubin produced?
Some of the albums that Rick Rubin produced are:
- Licensed to Ill by Beastie Boys
- Reign in Blood by Slayer
- Blood Sugar Sex Magik by Red Hot Chili Peppers
- American Recordings by Johnny Cash
- The Black Album by Jay-Z
- 21 by Adele
- Yeezus by Kanye West
- DAMN. by Kendrick Lamar
What are some of the awards that Rick Rubin won?
Some of the awards that Rick Rubin won are:
- Nine Grammy Awards, including two for Album of the Year (21 by Adele and The Dixie Chicks by The Chicks)
- Two MTV Video Music Awards, including one for Video of the Year (Sabotage by Beastie Boys)
- One Billboard Music Award for Producer of the Year
- One Clio Award for Best Music Video (99 Problems by Jay-Z)
- One Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Music Direction (Sound City)
What is Rick Rubin’s book about?
Rick Rubin’s book, The Creative Act: A Way of Being, is about his philosophy and approach to creativity. He shares his insights and wisdom on how to tap into one’s inner genius, overcome fear and doubt, and collaborate with others. He also features interviews with some of his friends and collaborators, such as Paul McCartney, Oprah Winfrey, David Lynch, and Russell Brand.
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