Song Origins and Ownership Structure
"What Now My Love" is a cover of the French chanson "Et maintenant," with English lyrics by Carl Sigman. Sonny & Cher recorded the track for their 1966 album "The Wondrous World of Sonny & Chér," and the composition credits remain tied to original writers Gilbert Bécaud, Pierre Delanoë, and Carl Sigman. The song became one of the duo's signature hits, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and establishing a catalog asset that continues to generate licensing revenue across streaming platforms, sync deals, and physical sales understanding music royalties.
Publishing rights for the composition are administered by the respective estates and affiliated publishers who hold the original catalog shares. Sonny & Cher's master recordings are controlled through labels that acquired or inherited the rights over decades, with distribution handled by major digital aggregators and legacy physical catalogs. The split between composition royalties and master recording royalties means the song generates income from two distinct revenue streams whenever it is streamed, licensed, or broadcast SEC filings.
Royalty Rates and Revenue Streams
Streaming royalties for the song are calculated per play under the mechanical and performance rights frameworks set by the Copyright Royalty Board and international equivalents. In the United States, interactive streaming services pay a blended rate that combines mechanical and public performance royalties, with the exact per-stream amount varying by platform, territory, and subscriber tier. The song's presence on major services such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music contributes to ongoing micro-revenue that accumulates over time royalty collection.
Sync licensing fees for film, television, advertising, and video games represent a high-value revenue channel for the composition. The song's recognizable melody and emotional tone make it a frequent choice for nostalgic or romantic scenes, with placement fees negotiated by the rights holders or their agents. Performance royalties are collected by performing rights organizations such as ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC when the track is played on radio, in live venues, or via background music services sync licensing.
Current Market Value and Catalog Trends
Music catalogs featuring iconic 1960s hits, including Sonny & Cher's discography, have attracted significant acquisition interest from institutional investors and streaming platforms seeking stable royalty cash flows. Valuations for such catalogs depend on historical streaming data, sync placement frequency, territorial reach, and the remaining duration of copyright protection. The song's enduring popularity and frequent use in media placements support a steady income profile that appeals to buyers in the secondary royalty market music catalog valuations.
Digital aggregation platforms have expanded the global distribution footprint of the master recordings, ensuring the song remains accessible in new markets and on emerging platforms. The composition's public domain status in some jurisdictions and its protected status in others creates a complex but lucrative licensing landscape that rights managers actively monitor. Ongoing data from streaming analytics and royalty statements continue to reflect consistent demand for the track, reinforcing its position as a durable asset in the duo's catalog