Band members CD sales

[JamesBond]

Hi All, just curious for opinions on how other indivudual artists or bands might distribute profits from CD sales to other band members? I am an individual song writer/musician that plays with one other musican, a drummer. I write all the songs and play all instruments except the drums. Any opinions as to what percentage of a CD sale should go to the drummer?

[Neil Ogilvie]

Personally, I split all money from gigs and cd's equally between the band/bands and the sound man. ie, like this.

£500 made - 3 bands and the sound crew. split the money 4 ways and let them divide it themselves.

Applying that to this situation, give him 50%. You didn't play the drums, but you couldn't have done it without him.

Just my thoughts on the situation.

[Chrisjob]

Well, what kind of cd have you made? Rock and Roll with two guitars, bass, drums> then he's, essentially, one 1/4 of the band, and if you're taking engineer/production credit, then there's, sorta, five people involved.

Think about that...

I'm working on an album, and although all additional musicians are my friends, we discuss this before we even record.

Peace

[JamesBond]

The music I write is rock, and I think I agree with you Chrisjob. Since I am playing all the instruments including being the engineer/producer and the drummer is performing only one function ...he should either receive one fourth or one fifth the profits from each CD.

[Layla Nahar]

I've heard people say that if you pay a musician a solid fee up front, the standard package does not include a percentage of profits from the CD

Anybody else hear something like that?

[Jagular]

Originally posted by Layla Nahar
I've heard people say that if you pay a musician a solid fee up front, the standard package does not include a percentage of profits from the CD

Anybody else hear something like that?

Yup…if you can afford to pay the musicians up front…that’s the way to go. Transaction is over. Since you consider the two of you a band… that may throw a complication in, but I guess I would push toward paying him fair session fees if you can afford it. Especially considering that you are doing everything except actually playing on the drum tracks. Look at it this way, if he decided to not play for you, you could hire another drummer to do the parts, right? But if he’s a good drummer (sometimes hard to find) make sure you treat him right .

I’m sure none of that babbling helped .

[tanlith]

OK if you're in a band and don't have some sort of a written contract covering monitary distribution then you're just askin' for trouble!

- Tanlith -

[bdbdbuck]

Absolutely! If your intentions are geared toward a business production, you should treat it as a business from the top to the bottom. Get all your "i's" dotted, and "t's" crossed. Get the paperwork cleared up so that there are no questions like this looming after the fact.


bd

[JamesBond]

This is all sound advice, being up front and honest, and getting things straight is the way to go.
Thanks for everyone's opinions!!

[Layla Nahar]

Originally posted by Jagular
Yup…if you can afford to pay the musicians up front…that’s the way to go. Transaction is over.

I'd max my credit cards to pay the dudes/gals up front - I've got this freaky thing about autonomy -- and if your about the $$$ -

GET IT IN WRITING

and discuss all the bad stuff before you proceed. Its really hard. Of course, you don;'t want to be like - starting out from a hostile and negative vibe. (that is the real reason behind this is - "sign this, 'coz I don't want you to sue me") but you need to be up front about the business practice you have in mind - If you do it right, people will respect you. Its really important for you to start of FAIR and solid with yourself about your business approach. Don't hide shit, & then hope it will work out in your favor later.