In a remarkable turn of events, Kate Bush generated a stunning £8 million from her 1985 hit “Running Up That Hill” after it soared to the top of the charts last year, a full 37 years following its original release.
This resurgence in popularity occurred after the song featured prominently in the fourth season of the Netflix supernatural series “Stranger Things,” catapulting it to number one in the UK and rekindling its international success.
Originally crafted by Bush for her renowned “Hounds of Love” album, the track also climbed to the top of the Australian charts and reached the number one spot on the iTunes chart in the US, indicating its widespread appeal across generations.
This resurgence in interest allowed Kate to triple her net worth, while simultaneously helping the song smash three Guinness World Records, underscoring its timeless allure and impact.
Bush achieved the distinction of being the oldest female artist to secure a Number One position in the UK’s Official Singles Chart. Furthermore, her song broke records for having the longest duration to reach Number One and the longest gap between Number One rankings on the UK’s Official Singles Chart.
Kate Bush banked an impressive £8million after her 1985 song Running Up That Hill hit the top of the charts last year, 37 years after its initial release (pictured in 2014)
She achieved a UK number one with her debut single Wuthering Heights in 1978, meaning there was a 44-year gap between to chart toppers.
Running Up That Hill reached number three in the charts when it was first released in 1985.
Kate’s company Noble & Brite Ltd brought in on £8.8million in 2022 and, even after £2.5m was paid to creditors, £6m was kept in net assets.
Her total equity tripled from £2m in May 2022 to £6.3m in May this year.
She paid more than £2.4m out in tax, according to her accounts filed with Companies House.
In the show, Running Up That Hill was grieving teen Max Mayfield’s (Sadie Sink) favourite song, and it unexpectedly saved her life in episode four.
The song reached the top of the UK charts in June last year after it appeared in the popular Netflix science fiction series and went viral on TikTok.
It was also the first time Kate had a number one in Australia since 1978, when her debut single Wuthering Heights claimed the top spot.
The singer’s 1985 track broke records and hit number one in the UK after its appearance in the fourth series of the Netflix supernatural thriller Stranger Things (Kate pictured in the 1985 music video for the song)
The singer-songwriter told BBC Radio 4’s Women’s Hour last year of the renewed interest in her music: ‘It’s so exciting, it’s quite shocking really, isn’t it?
‘The whole world’s gone mad!’
She added: ‘The thought of all these really young people hearing the song for the first time and discovering it is, well, I think it’s very special.’
The songstress also admitted that she hadn’t listened to her track in quite a while as she doesn’t tend to replay her ‘old stuff’.
In Stranger Things season four, Running Up That Hill was grieving teen Max Mayfield’s (Sadie Sink) favourite song, and it unexpectedly saved her life in episode four