Whitney Houston's lovely voice has graced Miami's airwaves since her death last weekend. One song in particular has become associated with her career and her passing: "I Will Always Love You." Houston recorded the song for a movie soundtrack in 1992, and it went -- to use a modern term -- viral.

When the song came on at the grocery store this week, we heard a shopper chatting with the checkout clerk. "I admit, I'm sick of this song," she said. "But all the money it's making should take care of her daughter for the rest of her life." The shopper believed that the royalties would go to Houston's heirs or into her estate.

That's not exactly how it will work, though. Houston was a singer, not a singer-songwriter. She performed music composed by others, and that greatly diminishes the royalties due her, her heirs or her estate. "I Will Always Love You" was written by Dolly Parton, who stands to earn writer's and publisher's royalties from its newfound popularity. A friend of ours put it crassly: Every time Whitney Houston sings, Dolly Parton goes "cha-ching."

Rumor has it that Houston was deep in debt when she died. She was "living off advances" from her record company, according to an inside source. That seems odd, because Houston signed the most lucrative recording contract to date in 2001, agreeing to six albums for $100 million. At the time of her death, she had only completed three of those albums, and the record company is likely to demand repayment of any advances.

If her death leads to a jump in record sales, Houston's estate may profit. According to an unnamed "successful songwriter," a singer's compensation is based on record sales; advances are calculated on anticipated record sales. This songwriter says that $2 per album is the average. Before the singer sees a dime, though, the record company deducts recording and marketing (including video) costs.

As a result, singers do not rely on record sales for their income. Personal appearance fees and ticket sales are much more lucrative. Unfortunately, that revenue stream dies with the singer.

This is all theoretical, though. Houston was such a powerhouse that her record label may have given her better terms.

At this point, then, it's all just grocery store gossip.

Source: Huffington Post, "Whitney Houston's Death To Earn Dolly Parton A Fortune," Naughty But Nice Rob, Feb. 13, 2012