Music/lyrics/production split

[matto]

I suppose you ask vocalists to sign a release agreement because in other countries they’re entitled to receive performance royalties.

Yes and because you NEED the release to make sure you control the master 100 percent. They will be entitled to a share of master income unless they signed the release. Of course you could also share the master income with them, but you still need the release to control the master, meaning being able to sign deals.

[patpal]

I forgot they own the master too, but most important is to control the master.
Thank you!

[rnrmachine]

Thanks Rob. What you say makes more sense for most styles, but would you pay Tiesto a flat fee? I’m not Tiesto, but still, I think the splits in dance songs are more comparable to the splits in hip hop/rap, like the scenario stated above by Tracy and Vance.

You hit the nail on the head when you said, I'm not Tiesto, imho. I haven't heard anything you have done so I don't want to lump you in with a 1000 other self-proclaimed producers, technicians, etc... But there are MANY and MANY of them are VERY good at what they do and still only get flat fees. Because in the music world, they are no one special. Their name, just like your name, on the song/albums they/you create will not open any doors like a well known person will. Well known producers get paid for that as well. For that... "Hey, did you hear that David Foster just produced a new album? Yea some new act... People will listen for that reason alone and he should be paid accordingly... imho.

For instance, to name a FEW but not near as many that EARNED the right to be mentioned, David Foster, Rick Rubin, Sam Phillips, Trent Reznor, George Martin. Phil Spector (yikes, don't turn your back on him haha but his success still warrants mentioning.) The list could go on and on...

Just read this about David Foster... http://www.davidfoster.com/biography ...and tell me you wouldn't give up just about every right and accept a small % of writers share to have him work on your project. Just his name on your project would draw attention... After all, 25%, or even 10% of a Gold or Platinum song/album is a lot more then 100% of a song that got a 10 second cue on a cable show or two.

Good Luck figuring this out and I hope you and your lyricist/singer can come to a fair and mutually content agreement.

Rob

[patpal]

Hi Rob,
I understand what you mean. I’m not famous so I shouldn’t ask for more than 50%, besides even splits are the standards that most songwriters follow as I’ve learned from all of you.
Thank you for the link to David Foster, very impressive. Of course I would accept a small percentage of writer’s share to have him on my project! Who wouldn’t!
Best,
Patricia

[rnrmachine]

Hi Rob,
I understand what you mean. I’m not famous so I shouldn’t ask for more than 50%, besides even splits are the standards that most songwriters follow as I’ve learned from all of you.
Thank you for the link to David Foster, very impressive. Of course I would accept a small percentage of writer’s share to have him on my project! Who wouldn’t!
Best,
Patricia

Hey Patrica,

I still want you to look for payment as the engineer, mixing, mastering, etc... no reason you can't earn a flat fee for all that!! I am just saying, imho, no reason to expect more then that.

Good Luck!!

Rob

[patpal]

Yes Rob, I know I would. thanks
Patricia

[patpal]

Matt,
I don’t know if you’ll read this.
When you said that you want to control the master, did you mean that you want to have the exclusive right to issue licenses, decide which publishers/music libraries you want to sign the songs you co wrote with other songwriters? In other words, control the publishing?
Thank you.

[patpal]

Does anyone know what is the standard (if there is one) percentage of mechanical royalties a producer is entitle to receive? Thank you.

[T&V Marino]

Really, it all comes down to "relationships" in this business. If you're clicking with the lyricist, they get you and you get them, and (most importantly) you'd like to work together in the future, you almost always have to do even splits.

We know some GREAT lyricists who spend months -- sometimes YEARS -- on ONE song. One lyricist we know has had a ton of songs on TV shows, commercials, major films )like "Batman: The Dark Night," etc). She will only do even splits, and rightly so.

It's not always fair to divide splits by the time spent. Writing great lyrics can be a huge undertaking. (That's why we stopped doing it years ago, and we even have four songs published in print! ) It's a lot more difficult than it seems.

Just about every songwriting team in history that didn't do even splits ended up splitting up! (Remember the Beatles???) Eventually it will come down to money, and that usually brings out the worst in a person.

So, think about the long-term possible outcome and your relationship with the person and the answer will become clear.

Hope that helps!

~ Tracey & Vance Marino