While promoting her 2021 memoir “Rememberings,” Sinéad O’Connor expressed to People Magazine her deep understanding of the value of her music legacy. The Irish singer revealed that she had an important conversation with her children about safeguarding her musical and financial assets.
O’Connor who was ranked No. 9 on Billboard’s Reggae Albums Artist Year-End chart in 2006, shared her heartfelt advice, urging her children to prioritize contacting her accountant before dialing 911, in the unfortunate event of her untimely passing. Her reasoning was clear – artists often become more valuable after their death, and she wanted to ensure that her music wouldn’t be exploited by record companies without her family’s knowledge.
Reflecting on the posthumous success of late artists like Tupac, O’Connor saw the issue as a concerning practice by record labels.
“See, when the artists are dead, they’re much more valuable than when they’re alive. Tupac has released way more albums since he died than he ever did alive, so it’s kind of gross what record companies do,” she told PEOPLE.
She wanted to prevent any mishandling of her artistic works and ensure her children would be aware of their rightful earnings.
Tragically, this week, the world lost the gifted vocalist, who was found unresponsive at a home in London at the age of 56. Authorities have not released the cause of her passing, and it is not being treated as suspicious by London police.
Sinéad O’Connor leaves behind a rich musical legacy, marked by her distinctive, pure voice, and exceptional songwriting that explored profound themes such as politics, spirituality, history, and philosophy. While her debut album, “The Lion and the Cobra,” garnered critical acclaim in 1987, it was her 1990 sophomore album, “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got,” that catapulted her to widespread fame as an esteemed artist.
O’Connor continued, “That’s why I’ve always instructed my children since they were very small, ‘If your mother drops dead tomorrow, before you called 911, call my accountant and make sure the record companies don’t start releasing my records and not telling you where the money is.'”
The world will forever remember Sinéad O’Connor for her immense talent and the profound impact she made on the music industry. As we mourn her passing, her insightful advice to her children serves as a testament to her love for her family and her dedication to preserving her musical legacy for generations to come.
