All about the bass

[The Admiral]

We are familiar with the Megan Trainor hit no doubt - a worldwide phenomenon. But boys and girls, pop quiz, how much did co -writer Kevin Kadish earn for almost 38 million plays on the streaming service Pandora?



$964


Check out the figures for some other recent massive hits :

http://www.thewrap.com/sony/atv-ceo-slams-cheap-songwriting-royalties-paid-by-pandora-spotify-totally-unacceptable/

Makes you want to start a band doesn't it.........

[xgsjx]

That's maybe why a few known bands can't be found on spottythigh or pandora.
Whereas they may not get much revenue from these sources, all the people mentioned still did all right from downloads & sales (not to mention touring).

If you're thinking of money, then that's the wrong reason to start/join a band. If it's for money, then you want to be a promoter.

[The Admiral]

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1432100370' post='2778069']
That's maybe why a few known bands can't be found on spottythigh or pandora.
Whereas they may not get much revenue from these sources, all the people mentioned still did all right from downloads & sales (not to mention touring).

If you're thinking of money, then that's the wrong reason to start/join a band. If it's for money, then you want to be a promoter.
[/quote]

I was looking at this in the context of the sh*tty deals which were the norm before about 1970, when artists started to gain some power and renegotiated for a fairer cut. The Beatles and the Stones original contracts were shockers by today's standards, and Bonnie Raiit has been fighting for the rights of blues and souls artist through her R&B Foundation for years - because the old guys were getting 1% gross. The royalty rate in the case of the streaming and Internet radio services is a tiny fraction of one percent : 0.00010% in fact, per play. Without the artist, the streamers have no business, and it's clearly unfair. Judging from the memo from the head of Sony, they can see which way the wind is blowing - away from downloads, to streaming, and they want their pound of flesh.

I agree about the reason for putting a band together, but everyone on here knows, it's hard work - and hard work should be paid for, particular if the art that is the outcome is enjoyed by millions.

Edited May 20, 2015 by The Admiral

[chris_b]

When they first signed to Motown The Supremes got 1% each.

I don't think Van Morrison even got that much when he signed up to his first management deal in the US. What ever you think of the songs, it's wrong that he gets so little for world wide hits such as Brown Eyed Girl and Moondance.

[r16ktx]

It's getting old with the music middlemen bitching and whining about how little the 'artist' gets from internet radio/streaming distribution when all they're really p1ssed about is how there is now no cash to be had by sitting in the middle fleecing both producer and consumer (With thanks to Steve Albini.) Internet radio/streaming is just that - radio, so compare 38 million internet 'plays' with a track getting radio airplay once with 38 million radio receivers being listened to (worldwide.) How much would the artist get there? Probably just dashed dreams and a large debt.

[The Admiral]

[quote name='r16ktx' timestamp='1432116111' post='2778235']
It's getting old with the music middlemen bitching and whining about how little the 'artist' gets from internet radio/streaming distribution when all they're really p1ssed about is how there is now no cash to be had by sitting in the middle fleecing both producer and consumer (With thanks to Steve Albini.) Internet radio/streaming is just that - radio, so compare 38 million internet 'plays' with a track getting radio airplay once with 38 million radio receivers being listened to (worldwide.) How much would the artist get there? Probably just dashed dreams and a large debt.
[/quote]

The record companies were late to the party on downloading and equally so on the threat of the streamers. As you say, they only care now because they are not getting paid, and the 'radio' like nature of anytime streaming is taking the place of downloading, which is now having an effect on bottom line. The royalty model needs updating if artists are to see any benefit from their work in future, as the trend is not to own the song in the sense of a CD or download, but rather to just play it as often as one likes from a streaming service. The idea of physical ownership, and therefore expecting any royalties from it, is redundant. That said, I wouldn't expect the big companies to do anything than use this opportunity to swing the balance of earnings in their favour, as they did in the early days of CD.