Hi,
I have recently been approached by an artist abroad through a friend, who is quite well known overseas and has been for sometime now. So he has a decent following and has definitely made money from music.
I have sent him a couple of songs, which he likes. He said he would like to do renditions of them. Meaning I still own the song, but for his 'rendition', he wants 50% of the publishing.
I wrote every lyrics of the songs to guitar. He will now go and get them produced, record, and his label and team will push it and get it heard.
Would you give away 50% of your publishing? They will definitely be putting a lot of effort into this.
This would be my first official release as a songwriter too.
I am also very sceptical of the agreement he sent me, as he wanted to say he was also a co-writer!
But he has since agreed that I can amend whatever I want.
I have no publisher so this would be a songwriter - artist contract? Or would my contract need to be with his label? And so far why is it only an agreement?
Complicated stuff! Anyone with any words of advice please do share them with me!
YOU ASKED: "Would you give away 50% of your publishing? They will definitely be putting a lot of effort into this?"
MY ANSWER: Personally, I'd give away 100% of the "publishing" and accept only 1/2 the royalties (or even less.) Part of something is worth WAY more than all of nothing.
YOU WROTE: I have sent him a couple of songs, which he likes. He said he would like to do renditions of them. Meaning I still own the song, but for his 'rendition', he wants 50% of the publishing.
I wrote every lyrics of the songs to guitar. He will now go and get them produced, record, and his label and team will push it and get it heard.
I am also very sceptical of the agreement he sent me, as he wanted to say he was also a co-writer!
But he has since agreed that I can amend whatever I want.
MY TAKE ON YOUR COMMENTS: When he/she/they talk about "doing a rendition" my understanding would be that they are going to do an arrangement that is not like your own. That they are going to change and (they hope) improve upon your work. If they do that, they are entitled (as I understand it) to a writer's credit. I would not stand in the way of that. It does not sound unethical to me, and it does not sound unusual to me.
Take all that with a grain of salt. I could easily be wrong in my interpretation.