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How many times have we heard about recording artists living
on skid row or dying broke ? I’m talkin’ bout artist
who’ve sold and made millions for the labels they recorded
for. There are even artists who’ve written songs on their
albums, but don’t own those songs. Artists like: Little
Richard, Sly Stone (Sly and The Family Stone), and even the legendary
Beatles didn’t own their material. They’d write these
songs, and not knowing the business, would let someone else control
their publishing rights.
Music publishing is a business unto it’s self. Some artists
have lived, and are living off hits, or a hit, that were / was
recorded years ago ( example, Chubby Checker and “The Twist”).
The major record companies are less likely 2 try and take a new
artist’s publishing these days. It’s the independents
who are doing it now. The majors have acquired an extensive catalog
over the years. Majors like Warner Brothers and EMI really don’t
care if they ever sign another new artist, because their catalog
is loaded with money making hits. A song like “White Christmas”
is gonna make money every year, and a major owns it. The independents
are tryin’ 2 build their catalog, so they’re signing
artists on the condition that they get 2 keep 100%, or at least
50% of the publishing. Some artists will do it just 2 get their
foot in the business. U gotta do whatcha gotta do. BUT DON’T
GIVE AWAY 100% !!!
All it takes is one hit. U may never have 2 hit a lick at a snake
again. Unless u want 2.
Michael Jackson out bid Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s
widow, Yoko Ono, for the publishing rights 2 The Beatles catalog
back in the mid 80’s for 47.5 million dollars. McCartney
and Ono were wealthy individuals, but Mike had more cash on hand
(Money was still rollin’ in from Thriller album). That Beatles
catalog is work over 400 million dollars today. MJ reportedly
sold half of it to Sony Music for $200,000,000. SEE WHAT I’M
SAYIN’ ?
Some may say that rap catalogs won’t bring in as much as
those artist who sing. I disagree. U think Master P., Puffy, The
Williams Brothers (Baby and Slim), LL Cool J., Will Smith &
Jazzy Jeff, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Snoop, Suge Knight, Nelly, J. Prince,
Ludacris, Missy, & Timbaland ain’t eatin’ good
off their publishing ? So, take my advice and DON’T LET
EM FIZZLE WITH YO MIZZLE !!
Register your publishing name with the performing rights organization
of your choice. ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC.
ascap.com
bmi.com
sesac.com
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