IU’s remake sends 23-year-old track skyrocketing—royalties surge 180x in one month

Singer IU has once again proven her massive influence—this time, in the world of music royalties.

According to data released on July 16 KST by music investment platform Musicow, royalties for singer Park Hye Kyung’s 2001 track “Red Shoes” surged more than 180 times in just one month following IU’s remake release at the end of May.

Musicow, which allows users to invest in music copyright shares, reported that the per-share royalty for “Red Shoes” in June reached 21,218 KRW, a dramatic jump from just 113 KRW in May. This remarkable increase was largely attributed to the popularity of IU’s remake, which was featured in her May album 'Flower Bookmark 3'. Musicow also confirmed that a new derivative work (the remake) had been officially registered for royalty sharing.

An analysis of the royalty breakdown revealed that 89.9% of the June revenue came from reproduction fees, typically associated with albums, film, or advertising use—highlighting how IU’s version boosted the song’s commercial value across multiple media.

Following “Red Shoes”, other tracks showing notable increases in royalties included:

• 4Minute’s “Is It Poppin’?”
• C JAMM’s “Beautiful”
• Daesung’s “Baby Don’t Cry”
• Cha Eun Woo’s “Rainbow Falling”

A Musicow spokesperson commented, “Even older songs can experience a sharp rise in royalties thanks to remakes, covers, reunions, or comebacks. Investors should monitor artist activities and media usage patterns to make informed decisions.” The platform also pledged to offer more detailed insights via its royalty settlement notes and web magazine content.

IU’s 'Flower Bookmark 3', her third remake album, includes six classic Korean tracks:

• Park Hye Kyung’s “Red Shoes”
• Boohwal’s “Never Ending Story”
• Seo Taiji’s “October 4th”
• Roller Coaster’s “Last Scene”
• Shin Jung Hyun’s “Beautiful Woman”
• White’s “Square’s Dream”

With her remake breathing new life into nostalgic hits, IU not only bridges generations but also demonstrates how timeless music can find fresh commercial success.

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