Bowie Bonds Out-perform Government Stock!

As the merchandise exchanged and money roared…

Another piece in the February edition of Q magazine headed “Bowie Bonds Mature!” and illustrated by the graphic above, explains how investment in Bowie Bonds is a wiser choice than investment in UK Government gilt. Here’s what they say:

“Issued in 1997, and based on the future royalties from David Bowie’s 25 pre-90s albums, the “Bowie Bonds” are currently halfway through their lifespan. As our city editor reveals, they’ve turned into a decent nest egg.” And the explanation under the graphic reads thus: “Figures based on subsequent re-investment of yield. “Bowie Bonds” issued in January 1997 and bought as a block by the Prudential Insurance Company for $55m. They have a 10-year lifespan and pay back their yield at 7.9 per cent. The yield of the equivalent 10 year UK Government gilt issued in 1997 is 7.3 per cent.”

While we’re on the subject of good earners, according to the Guardian Unlimited website, David Bowie was Britain’s eighth highest earning pop star in 2001. Not bad considering he released no new material last year. The £8.3m he was purported to have earned, had him biting at the heels of The Rolling Stones, (who earned £8.5 between the lot of ’em!) but fairing a little better than the Bee Gees and Sting. Here’s the Top Ten from that list:

1 (1) The Beatles – £65m
2 (2) U2 – £60m
3 (3) Sir Elton John – £27.5m
4 (16) Pink Floyd – £16m
5 (-) Dido – £12m
6 (13) Enya – £9m
7 (4) Rolling Stones – £8.5m
8 (5) David Bowie – £8.3m
9 (-) David Gray – £8m
10 (-) Bee Gees – £4.7m
10 (-) Sting – £4.7m

In the words of one of David’s early songs, ‘Uncle Arthur’, I think we can safely say: “He gets his pocket money, he’s well fed…”

Thanks to Spaceface for the pointer to the Guardian piece.