Songwriting Credits?

  • Thread starter Thread starter vanillachai
  • Start date Start date
If you want 100% of the copyright, I think you are legally entitled to it now.
It's now up to you to decide whether to give away some percentage to the others. Consider the consequences....
I know David K gets performance $$$ every year for playing on REM's album which he did not write/arrange.
Here in Canada, the copyright is created when the song is written.
 
ido1957 said:
I know David K gets performance $$$ every year for playing on REM's album which he did not write/arrange.
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Exactly, if your using studio musicians or band members you really have to lay out the money in paid salaries, or paid sessions, a musician thats willing to spend their time and effort helping you make an album FOR A PERCENTAGE is actually a much better deal (for the writer) than paying out the cash, unless your a songwriter thats a lock to sell millions.

I doubt thats the case, give them a percentage or pay them now, thats whats fair!
 
vanillachai said:
We are not writing songs together...and the stuff that they come up with I am telling them if I like it for the song or not...but I still want to give them creative freedom and to not be robots...
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I write exactly the same way, but have a different feeling about other's contributions. In fact, I just commented on this in another thread.

I see myself as being something of a developer. Writing the lyrics and melody are my piece of property. The foundation might be in the content or mood of the piece. The bassist/drummer/lead guitar/backing vocals/whatever are also builders. They have tools and knowledge that I don't have, but they still have to follow a certain pattern to fit walls onto the foundation - according to my taste. Then someone wires and plumbs the building, puts in flooring, windows, countertops, etc. All inside of a general outline, but not without the freedom to add their special touches - which, if they are as good as I think they are, will only increase the value of the whole work.

Any musician capable of helping me build this structure can share equally with me in the rewards if there be any value in the end. Or, I can sit in the rain on my foundation and hope someone wants to buy my unintended swimming pool.

As far as "rights" are concerned - I'll take credit for lyrics and the band will share in all else.
 
When people look at St Paul's cathedral, everyone says "what a wonderful architecht Sir Christopher Wren" was . When they look at the great buildings in Barcelona, they comment on how marvelous Gaudi was. Never mind that neither man lifted a finger to do any of the actual work !
 
grimtraveller said:
When people look at St Paul's cathedral, everyone says "what a wonderful architecht Sir Christopher Wren" was . When they look at the great buildings in Barcelona, they comment on how marvelous Gaudi was. Never mind that neither man lifted a finger to do any of the actual work !
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Well, if people say I wrote good songs after I die it won't be because I didn't give credit where credit is due. But, on the off-chance that a song or two or 10 take off while I'm living, which is actually my hope, what is the difference to me between sharing them or not? So I can be richer than rich? That's not me. I'm going to be happy with a shack in the woods away from intrusions and noise.. that is what I'm working toward and hoping for. When a song hits, there is enough for everyone except those that want to feed their narcissism.
 
Interesting thread, and I guess there is no easy answer. I have heard of writers dividing up rights to exact percentages - including giving certain contributors as little as 5%.

The point is, what constitutes a song, and "songwriting", as opposed to arranging and producing? When I write something, I consider it "finished" (or at least for the time being) when I have lyrics, melody and chords (and sometimes backing vocals). If others add/change the song does that count as rewriting or completing the song?

I think the architecture example is a good one. The question perhaps comes down to whether others substantially chnage the song, or are fulfilling the idea/vision you already have. In a few weeks I'm going to a professional recording studio to record a few songs with a session player. The guy in question is one of those horribly talented guys who can play anything, and we've been talking about the kind of sound/style I want. I have no idea about playing drums or bass (I just play guitar, and not very well!) so I am very much in his hands - but I have an idea of the way I want the songs to sound. So where will the songwriting end and the production begin? I guess I'll have a better answer after the session!
 
i think if every body put in equal bits they should all get a mention,its only fair
 
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