Since it debuted in November, Mark Ronson's latest megahit single, "Uptown Funk," has made a boatload of money for the several musicians and record label executives involved in its production. According to Billboard's analysis of the song's publishing royalties, "Uptown Funk" has generated $2.7 million in revenue, to be split among the song's eleven credited writers. This includes producer Mark Ronson himself, singer Bruno Mars, The Gap Band, and rapper Trinidad James.
Mark Ronson owns 18 percent of the profits from "Uptown Funk." Trinidad James, whose "All Gold Everything" inspired the song's hook—don't believe me just watch!—gets an eight percent cut, amounting to at least $150,000 in royalty earnings to date. The initial profits split initially excluded The Gap Band, until the group's publisher, U.K.-based Minder Music, filed a copyright complaint with YouTube based on melodic and bassline similarities between "Uptown Funk" and The Gap Band's "Oops Upside Your Head."
Trinidad James split from Def Jam last summer. A year later, he seems to be thriving just fine.
