The New Music Business with Ari Herstand
Don't Cut Your Drummer Into Publishing...
Apr 30, 2025
In this insightful discussion, the complexities of music royalties and publishing are unravelled. The host emphasizes the distinction between master and publishing royalties, shedding light on what session musicians are entitled to. There's a focus on the significance of one-stop agreements and the historical inequities in compensation models. Additionally, it advocates for fair treatment of drummers and other session players, challenging common misconceptions about their rights in the music creation process.
26:37
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Quick takeaways
- Only songwriters involved in melody and lyrics should participate in publishing rights, while session musicians typically receive payment for performance, not publishing.
- Understanding the distinction between master royalties and publishing royalties is crucial for fair compensation, with master royalties often making up about 80% of total income.
Deep dives
Understanding Co-Writing and Publishing Rights
Only those who contribute to songwriting—melody and lyrics—should participate in publishing rights. This includes anyone involved in the co-creation of a song, regardless of the instrument they play or their specific contributions. In many creative environments, such as Nashville, there's a common practice of equally splitting songwriting credits among all contributors, which fosters collaboration and clarity. However, this principle applies strictly to songwriters and not to session musicians hired for their performance, as their roles are different from those who participate in the songwriting process.
