• From: BELGIUM
  • Registered: 2007-01-27
  • Posts: 3,403

Topic: A burning question.

You play in a band, and me? I wrote the melody and the lyrics. The band has a huge hit resulting in a million seller.
Probably the so called "simple question will depend on a lot more factors.
You earn a lot of money, but on the 1000$ WHO GET'S WHAT? in %.
- THE BAND?
- THE person who wrote the melody and lyrics?
- THE RECORD company?

If I write a multi million seller hit, NO performing or playing in a band, I simply wrote it, what would be "my cut"?
Or is it a lot more complex depending of who has the song rights?
What is the share of the band?
Is a MANAGER, a PRODUCER getting more.
THIS IS A TOPIC I REALLY LOVE, and I think it is an interesting topic giving us an idea about who gets what of the multimillion pie.

[color=blue]- GITAARDOCPHIL SAIS: TO CONQUER DEAD, YOU HAVE TO DIE[/color]   AND [color=blue] we are born to die[/color]
- MY GUITAR PLAYS EVERY STYLE = BLUES, ROCK, METAL, so I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY IT.
[color=blue]Civilization began the first time an angry person cast a word instead of a rock.[/color]

gitaardocphil's Website

  • From: Almancil, Algarve, Portugal
  • Registered: 2006-09-02
  • Posts: 6,205

Re: A burning question.

Hi Lieven,

I am not a legal expert but my best guess would be:

If you wrote a song that became a big hit for a band they would have done it with your permission, so there would be a contact. The terms of the contract would have pre-determined what your cut would be.

If they performed it without your permission they would be in breach of copyright and a judge would be determining what your cut would be.


Roger

"Do, or do not; there is no try"

Roger Guppy's Website

  • From: BELGIUM
  • Registered: 2007-01-27
  • Posts: 3,403

Re: A burning question.

Well my dearest big BRO, that's the problem.
I wrote this topic with JOHN FOGERTY IN MIND. They probably signed a "dirty contract, giving the rights away on his songs", also the STORY JACKSON versus Mc CARTNEY, (I STILL CAN'T IMAGINE THAT "SIR" PAUL SOLD the rights of his songs to Michael Jackson). Or was it YOKO ONO?
I start with a completely UNKNOWN band, let's say you with James, Toney, Ken and Lena as singer. Of course accompanied with the GREAT CHORDIE CHOIR.
I write a really catchy tune and lyrics and indeed, the impossible happens, there are 10.000.000 copies sold worlds wide. About contracts there is no dispute all the songs are subject of copyright, meaning nobody can steal your song because it is registred.
HERE IS MY QUESTION: WHO GETS WHAT?
I am aware that it all depends on a lot more factors than selling a record. But Lena is not only the singer, she is let's say a lawyer and is manager of the band.  THIS IS REALITY AND NO DREAMING.
I agree the most fantastic way to sell songs is a direct download 99 cent/song. No record
company, no limits.
Are the %%% dependent from country to country? Probably not.
Bands having great songs don't play the game Lennon/McCartney or Jagger/Richards but they credit all members, which is fair enough because in the process of writing a song by A & B, C & D add a lot too.

[color=blue]- GITAARDOCPHIL SAIS: TO CONQUER DEAD, YOU HAVE TO DIE[/color]   AND [color=blue] we are born to die[/color]
- MY GUITAR PLAYS EVERY STYLE = BLUES, ROCK, METAL, so I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY IT.
[color=blue]Civilization began the first time an angry person cast a word instead of a rock.[/color]

gitaardocphil's Website