Glee' Stars See Little Money From Hit Albums

Glee's stars are reportedly unhappy with the royalties that Sony Music, the label that releases the show's chart-topping soundtracks, is paying the cast. Three discs featuring highlights from the Fox series have hit Number One on the Billboard 200 in the past year alone--The Power of Madonna, Showstoppers and Journey to the Regionals--with over a million combined copies sold. "I got 400 bucks from [Glee: The Music - Journey to the Regionals] going Number One," actor Corey Montieth recently told a Washington DC radio station. "But you know what, that's OK, because if I'm patient, and if this thing does really well, maybe I'll see another 400 bucks."

According to the New York Post's Page Six, Glee's deal with Sony Music largely cut out the cast, and the actors have responded by complaining to the show's creator, Ryan Murphy. Page Six also speculates that star Matthew Morrison signed his contract with Mercury Records - under the Universal Music umbrella, as opposed to Sony - because of the royalties fight. Lea Michele will still release her solo album through Sony, but sources claim the actress is leading the charge to get the cast a bigger revenue share.

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Song Stories

“Youth Knows No Pain”

Lykke Li | 2011

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”

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