STAIND's MIKE MUSHOK Might Finally Start Making Money Off His Records This Decade

Despite having sold millions of records, Staind guitarist and songwriter Mike Mushok hasn't made a dime from royalties. Mushok revealed the sobering news on The KiddChris Show, where he noted that Staind received sizable advances and they're still trying to pay those back. Mushok then notes he expects to hopefully start making money from royalties sometime this decade… despite Staind's music being out for over 20 years.

The comment was prompted by Mushok being asked how he felt about Chevelle frontman Pete Loeffler's 2021 comments that his band hadn't made any money from record sales despite selling over 6 million units on Epic Records.

"Listen, I've sold I don't know how many millions of records, and I've never once received a royalty from the record company after — whatever — 20, whatever, 25 years. We still owe them money. We haven't been on the label since — I don't know — 2011 was the last record we put out on Atlantic, and we still owe them money.

"And listen, I'm not gonna lie — they gave us large advances, and that's why [we still owe them money]. But seriously, they have to be paid off. But anyways, I think it's estimated, I think we're saying, like, another three years it'll be paid off and I'll actually start making royalties on our records."

Staind's music has been released on Elektra, Atlantic, and BMG throughout the years. Though the majority of their hits are from the Elektra records. Mushok also noted that he hopes to get the rights back for Staind's music from the label, but he also knows it's probably going to be a fight.

"Yeah. So supposedly after 35 years, the masters are supposed to revert back to you. But I was talking to our attorney about that, and he said that no label ever lets you do that. They try to buy you out and give you money so they can continue to own the masters — unless you fight them."