Russell Simmons has predicted that the days of artists earning money from royalties are numbered and building brands is where the income lies as music becomes more influential in society.

The All Def Digital founder said being a music star these days "is [about] a lot more than selling records", in an interview with Hypebot.

"[Artists aren't] counting their royalties as their income, they’re counting all of the things that they influence - all the multibillion dollar business that their ...