|
I guess I could go on and on about this "syndrome" of just because its on Kazaa or whatever I am going to download it, but it is no better than me buying a Greekletter shirt because it's there nor does it make it right because I paid for it.
To be honest with ya'll, even the best recording or publishing contract is not structured benefit the artist. One of the key points that is not being discussed is that these $1, $2, $50 and $100 million advances that you are reading about are actually LOANS that have to be paid back in the record sells. The record company LOANS artists money to record their album, to shoot their videos, to do whatever it is they need to do to take care of themselves. Then when the CD comes out, they begin making payments on that LOAN until they pay their advance back, then they collect royalties.
In the songwriters case, most of the real money doesn't come until at least two years AFTER the album or single comes out (assuming that their song was selected for the album and released). First the record companies collect money off of each CD sold. Then they pay one of four publishing houses (ASCAP, which I am in the process of becoming a member of; BMI; PMI or SESAC) about two to four times a year (depending on the firm and contract between that house and record company). The first payment can take anywhere between 3 to 6 months after the CD comes out (remember the record company has to collect the money first). Then the publishing houses pay the publishing companies, which can take anywhere between 3 to 6 months (cause they have to collect the money too). The publishing company then pays the songwriter (or his/her representative), which again can take anywhere between 3 to 6 months. Now lets say that I wrote "So Gone" for Monica and that was one of the only songs I was actually collecting revenue from. "So Gone" was officially released March 24th. If I follow the process of waiting until Monica's album came out (After the Storm, June 17th, 2003), then it would be about February to May 2004 before I see any kind of earnings for the song "So Gone"
There is more to this actually, but I don't feel like writing this type of book for ya'll. But trust me, the artist are the ones who get hurt IN THE END when you burn an album from the CD and not pay for it. I guess I sympathize with the artists on this issue... partly because I am one.
|