Oliver Tree’s final wishes are now part of the story for rights holders, publishers, and artists alike: he said he planned to keep the money generated from his work away from family and give it back to artists instead. That makes his April remarks more than a personal statement; they are a direct reminder of how an artist’s estate can shape the future value of songs, videos, and residuals.
Tree said his will would not leave a windfall to family
Fans have been revisiting an April interview Tree gave on The Zach Sang Show, where he said he did not believe the wealth generated from his work was his. He said his will was set up so that when he died, his family would not get any money.
Tree added that if he had a wife or children, they would not get a penny, although he said he would get his kids through college. He said there would be no “silver spoon.”
He planned a foundation tied to his art
Tree said he intended to set up his own foundation, Dr. Oliver Tree’s Art Grants For Baby Geniuses, though it is unclear whether he completed that plan before his death. He also said that when he died, his art would continue to generate residuals and could become more valuable than it is now.
He said, “People will finally appreciate my stupid videos and my stupid songs. That’s when people appreciate you, when you’re not there anymore.” He added, “Hopefully it will last for like 100 years and people can donate.”
His death prompted fresh attention on those remarks
Tree died in a helicopter crash on June 14, with five others also losing their lives in the mid-air collision in Brazil. He was 32. He was remembered for songs including Life Goes On, Miss You and When I’m Down.
The news drew shock across the entertainment industry, with Melanie Martinez, Kid Cudi, T-Pain, KSI and Flying Lotus among those paying tribute.
Melanie Martinez remembered him as a true artist
Martinez, who was a former partner of Tree’s, shared a tribute on her Instagram story and described him as a “true artist” with a “soft heart.” She said she had been “an absolute wreck” and praised his dedication to his art, his laugh, and his ability to lead creatively while keeping a sense of childlike wonder.
What to watch next: whether Tree’s foundation was ever put in place, and how the residuals from his music and videos are handled now that attention has turned to the will he described in April.
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