Curtis Mayfield – $10 million
Greatest Hits: People Get Ready
Curtis Mayfield was a founding member of the big band The Impressions, which was well-known for its civil rights activism and songs during the 1950s and 1960s. He was born in Chicago and began singing as a member of a gospel choir when he was a child. When Mayfield met Jerry Butler, another singer, he decided to join the Impressions. The songs they published as a result of their social consciousness became a vital part of the civil rights movement. His song ‘People Get Ready’ was ranked #24 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 greatest songs of all time. In addition, SuperFly was directed.
Max Martin – $260 million
Greatest Hits: Baby One More Time, It’s Gonna Be Me, I Want It That Way
Max Martin is one of our generation’s most forward-thinking writers. The Backstreet Boys (“Baby One More Time”), Britney Spears (“I Want It That Way”), and NSYNC (“It’s Gonna Be Me”), who were all born in Sweden, even came up with a catchphrase to describe themselves. He wrote twenty-two songs that reached the top of the Billboard charts. Some of these hits have also been produced by him. He has written songs for Taylor Swift as well as for other artists such as Maroon 5, The Weeknd, and Katy Perry. With Paul McCartney and George Martin, he’s up there with the best of the best.