Drethe5th
contact @ i80media.com
Several people have recorded a track, created a song, or leased music and later run into the issue of Who owns What?
The track is done. Possibly picking up steam and may create some cash..... or a client wants the music and all session files, although you helped create many of the parts.....
Of course the argument occurs.
Was your bass line and drums a "Work For Hire", giving you a one time payment and no other attachment?
Was it a collaborative effort and you want to retain various percentages of rights and compensation?
Was it a song you let them record, but the basis was your idea and music, and you still want to control it, or sell it to another person or use it with another artist?
Trying to sort through this after the fact is a headache and will possibly stop progress.
Discuss things up front, or at least immediately after the session, not days weeks and months after.
Keep track of everything created, and who contributed what parts, and more importantly what the specific agreement was for their specific part.
If the guy who did the drums, but was actually considered as the artist, now going to be considered a producer or writer.....or did he simply do them because he was cool with you and isn't looking for payment. NOTE: Even if he isn't looking for payment, or credit or even a bottle of water.....you MUST have that "wants nothing" in writing. Full blown contracts are best, but if you dont know how to write one and understand one, they may not be a move for you right now. So at a minimum, you will need what is known as a split sheet. Always have multiple copies printed and use them at every session, even if the next 3 sessions are covering the same song with minor changes. Today your friend Rick did the drums on the MPC, next week Mike does them again the exact same way but with a different snare. 6 months from now the record blows up..... Who do you owe money to? Who's drums are they? Ricks or Mikes, or both? The Studio Session Split Sheet will help answer that question quicker and more honestly that peoples memories....that happen to get a little bit fuzzy as soon as it looks like a check is coming. Cut'n'Paste this into a Word Document and adjust it as needed. Then always have a copy printed, and one in your email at all times. At the end of a session, everyone signs, and gets a copy and as soon as possible you email it to them as well.
Date: 2019-FEB-07
Time: 2:00am Houston
Song Name or File Number: Get Money 1762709
Recording Studio: Dirty South Studios
Project: Steph Curry Album
Session Producer/Financer: Phil Jackson Management
Main Performer: Steph Curry
Featured Performer: None
Verse Writer: Steph Curry
Hook Writer: Michael Phelps
Drums: Alex Rodriguez
Bass Line: Alex Rodriguez
Main Melody: Rohnda Rousey
Miscellaneous Music: Usain Bolt
Samples Used: “Big Pay Back” James Brown
DATE: ____________________________
SIGNATURE: ______________________________
SIGNATURE: ______________________________
SIGNATURE: ______________________________
SIGNATURE: ______________________________
SIGNATURE: ______________________________
The track is done. Possibly picking up steam and may create some cash..... or a client wants the music and all session files, although you helped create many of the parts.....
Of course the argument occurs.
Was your bass line and drums a "Work For Hire", giving you a one time payment and no other attachment?
Was it a collaborative effort and you want to retain various percentages of rights and compensation?
Was it a song you let them record, but the basis was your idea and music, and you still want to control it, or sell it to another person or use it with another artist?
Trying to sort through this after the fact is a headache and will possibly stop progress.
Discuss things up front, or at least immediately after the session, not days weeks and months after.
Keep track of everything created, and who contributed what parts, and more importantly what the specific agreement was for their specific part.
If the guy who did the drums, but was actually considered as the artist, now going to be considered a producer or writer.....or did he simply do them because he was cool with you and isn't looking for payment. NOTE: Even if he isn't looking for payment, or credit or even a bottle of water.....you MUST have that "wants nothing" in writing. Full blown contracts are best, but if you dont know how to write one and understand one, they may not be a move for you right now. So at a minimum, you will need what is known as a split sheet. Always have multiple copies printed and use them at every session, even if the next 3 sessions are covering the same song with minor changes. Today your friend Rick did the drums on the MPC, next week Mike does them again the exact same way but with a different snare. 6 months from now the record blows up..... Who do you owe money to? Who's drums are they? Ricks or Mikes, or both? The Studio Session Split Sheet will help answer that question quicker and more honestly that peoples memories....that happen to get a little bit fuzzy as soon as it looks like a check is coming. Cut'n'Paste this into a Word Document and adjust it as needed. Then always have a copy printed, and one in your email at all times. At the end of a session, everyone signs, and gets a copy and as soon as possible you email it to them as well.
Basic Studio Session Agreement (Split Sheet)
Date: 2019-FEB-07
Time: 2:00am Houston
Song Name or File Number: Get Money 1762709
Recording Studio: Dirty South Studios
Project: Steph Curry Album
Session Producer/Financer: Phil Jackson Management
Main Performer: Steph Curry
Featured Performer: None
Verse Writer: Steph Curry
Hook Writer: Michael Phelps
Drums: Alex Rodriguez
Bass Line: Alex Rodriguez
Main Melody: Rohnda Rousey
Miscellaneous Music: Usain Bolt
Samples Used: “Big Pay Back” James Brown
DATE: ____________________________
SIGNATURE: ______________________________
SIGNATURE: ______________________________
SIGNATURE: ______________________________
SIGNATURE: ______________________________
SIGNATURE: ______________________________