JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Songwriter Message Forum What is the reality behind selling lyrics in Nashville?

I think this is about it for me on this one.

Polly
I never said it doesn't take talent and a lot of work to put music to a song.
I have been doing this for about 6 years now and have spent some time around folks who are very talented I see how much effort goes into all of this.

My only problem with this is the difference between a demo and a master.
A Demo is done by someone working for hire. You pay them. They produce a good product for you to use in promoting your song. The whole purpose of that is to get someone else to license the song, cut, put it on a CD and sell it and make money. You, the writer, are then paid a royalty. I won't go into the details of how you are paid, that's another subject.
The point is it is a DEMO. The STUDIO that did the DEMO gets nothing beyond payment for producing the DEMO.

When one person writes a song, writes the melody, and sits in their own studio and records the song it is there own song. They own it. ALL of it. It is not a DEMO they can do with it whatever they want. Publish it, Pitch it, sell copies of it, License it, Perform it, Make as much money on it as they want and they don't have to share a single penny of the profit with anyone. UNLESS they have a co writer. The they share the profit with the co writer. The way they share it is up to them. it can be 50/50, 60/40, 70/30, whatever they agree on.

You have the idea that the person writing the lyric is somehow less deserving of that than the person writing the music. I can accept that. It is your opinion. I happen to think they are equal.

Once two people create a song. Lyric and Melody they then go into a new phase. They must orchestrate the song. And someone must perform it.

If I sit down with someone and work out a song singing and playing my guitar I don't tell the co writer I get more credit because I can play the guitar and sing better than they can. We share in the song equally.
When I reach over and hit the record button on my software and record the song I don't say Hey I recorded it that'll be ten bucks.
If I then put a lead track on it I don't add another ten bucks. Or if I play a little Bass.
That's about it for me. I don't know how to do any more than that musically. If I need any more instruments I have to pay someone. But they are work for hire and DO NOT OWN ANY PORTION OF THE SONG AND DO NOT GET ANY FUTURE BENEFIT FROM THE SONG.

I do know how to Mix the song and can burn it down to a CD.

If you think I have no talent go check a few of the songs on my CD. I did ALL the production work on them. They ain't perfect but I am pretty proud of them. I did have a professional musician helping on the music So those great guitar licks are not me. But they were work for hire. They are not co writers. The guitarist got paid for his work and gets no future earnings from the CD. IF there are any.

That Haze is very talented and has great credentials I have no doubt. That he deserves more credit than the Lyricist for writing the melody I do not agree. They are equal, IMHO.
That he deserves more credit for orchestrating the song I agree. For recording it I agree.
BUT that credit should be part of the Co write agreement. In the Split. if they agree.
If the song ever goes anywhere, gets released or gets licensed and cut BOTH the co writers get paid royalties.
That is what co writing is all about.

If you think the lyric writer should be paying you for your contribution to the project and giving you a co write that is up to you.
I only tried to give you my opinion on the fairness of the situation. Whether you agree or not is your choice.

Polly
the Musicians who played on my demo were ALL prodigies. One is a regular on the Grand Old Opry. One has played 16 number ones. They did not ask for a co write. They contributed licks, melodies, and creative fills. It was there job as a work for hire. Had they asked cor a co write I can assure you I would not have paid them.