+- Michael Johnson Message Board (https://mjblue.com/bbforum)
+-- Forum: MJ Forum (https://mjblue.com/bbforum/forumdisplay.php?fid=1)
+--- Forum: Michael Discussion (https://mjblue.com/bbforum/forumdisplay.php?fid=2)
+--- Thread: Hugh Prestwood (/showthread.php?tid=357)
Hugh Prestwood - drd - 03-13-2022
Here’s a bit of unsettling news. It seems Hugh Prestwood, who wrote a lot of Michael’s great songs, has run into serious financial hardship this year. Due in part to how royalties are now paid to songwriters, his income has drastically been cut.
It seems incomprehensible that such a successful songwriter like Hugh would have to start a GoFundMe page to pay expenses.
Quite the injustice for someone who has written many, many hit songs for artists who, like Michael, give people solace, escape, and happiness, holding up a mirror showing us who we are or wish to be.
RE: Hugh Prestwood - TJLoredo - 03-13-2022
Crazy! Just last night I was thinking of him, when the local NPR station played a cover of his song "Bristlecone Pine" on one of the Saturday evening folk shows. Alas, it wasn't as good as Michael's version, but it's such a great song that no matter how it's performed, you end up saying, "wow, what a great song!"
Here's the GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/elderly-and-drifting-towards-homeless
I was saddened to hear that, due to earlier financial hardship, Hugh already sold his songwriting copyrights, so even if the songwriter compensation model evolves to something more just, his songwriting income stream is gone.