JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Mentor Questions Forum Problems with Claim to Songwriter in a Band

HI Chrsitine!

Wouldn't be a bad idea for them to get all things concerned in writing with each other. (Name of band, gear, cowriters share, gear, etc).

Writing: Suggest equal ownership for those who contributed more than a hiccup on any song. 50/50, or 33/33/33, or,,,you get it!
To try to decipher every note, every line, every chord.....To then have someone I might guess to say, "HE JUST wrote the bridge. so he only gets 17%" kind of nonsense is not going to make for good long term bandmates and friends. If a song does well in the future, like a lottery ticket, ALL the writers should have the same kind of boat! To even think of this now though, is really early, going by the odds. But it's just something to get out of the way early on, rather than when money can turn some greedy as money has a way of getting in the way of friends.

Buddy Holcombe and I had been cowriters since 1978, and just recently stopped collaborating. There were some songs which he did most of the writing, but we still had our 50/50 agreement, (verbal) in place. Same for anything I might have done more than the 50% worth. Didn't matter. I even wrote a song with a friend, which got aired in 48 countries in TV. Buddy then got a third of all the writers and publishing income. We made that other co writer a publisher for that one song. We all had the same funds, and ate at the same diner! (Didn't get a truckload of money), but if we had, we already had that first and admendment agreement of all being equals.

For the songs I write now, if anything comes of them, and with any other writer, Bud would share my share. 25/25, with the other writer getting 50%. I do that, for although Buddy and I aren't actively collaborating out of choice by him to retire, our agreement when made was for life, and no matter who wrote what, even if nothing. I learned from him more than he from me, so that is also a secondary explanation, which I don't need to keep our deal. (I just tell that to some who say, "WHAT?!

Those kids have a lot to go through and to learn. They might have limited ideas of the actual workings of the music business. Experience is key, as well as having knowledge. Have your son and whoever else is interested read Don Passman's book. "All you need to know about the music business". Got to know what the lawyers, publishers and labels know, besides publishing and distribution, to hopefully someday oversee what their lawyers are doing. And actually, to get them in the frame of mind of operating as a business, if serious as it sounds.

Most bands don't make enough to feed families, so they should keep that in mind. Same for girlfriends for many reasons for now not to have. Got to get established first, and that takes TIME and WORK around the clock, month after month, year after year, (with girls around them as it is), to maybe sell enough CD's on their own to get some attention for possibly being marketable. "Good" doesn't always mean anything. It's luck after hard work and smart decisions. Even then,,,,90% can't sustain an original band for income for all.

Brian, jump in if you like, as these kids do have a tight sound, and have talent, to at least give a good dose of advice and cautions.

By the way Christine, I listened to your songs too today. Good, nice voice you have. Good feeling. been singing long? Sounds it.

Best of everything to you and your son.

John