Decoder with Nilay Patel It's brutal out here: Olivia Rodrigo and how the music business makes songwriters fight over credits
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Sep 15, 2021 Charlie Harding, co-host of Switched on Pop and music industry aficionado, dives into the complexities of songwriting credits in the modern music world. He discusses Olivia Rodrigo’s debut album 'Sour' and her ongoing adjustments to songwriting credits, shedding light on the struggles of new artists navigating copyright laws. The conversation also explores the nuances of musical borrowing, the implications of historical legal battles, and how these issues shape the creative landscape for songwriters today.
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Two Copyrights
- Songs have two copyrights: the master recording and the publishing rights (composition).
- Sampling uses the recording, while interpolation recreates elements, impacting licensing and payments.
Music Revenue Streams
- Music revenue comes from streaming, performance royalties (publishing), and synchronization (master + publishing).
- Streaming favors master rights, while radio/performance royalties favor publishing rights.
Olivia Rodrigo's Authorship Controversy
- Olivia Rodrigo's album "Sour" sparked authorship controversies due to similarities with other artists' works.
- She added writing credits to Taylor Swift and Paramore after online discussions.