Post by Max on Sept 30, 2020 17:21:54 GMT
First let me start by saying I do not profess to understand publishing laws, copyright, song ownership nor the who/what the record company and label do for, and with their artists.
I have long been aware that the creators of songs, the music and lyric writers hardly ever own their own songs which strikes me as a bizarre situation. I remember Paul McCartney saying this in the 80’s when Michael Jackson owned them. I recall reading that Bruce Springsteen had a legal battle with a manager about a dubious contract for a couple of years in the 70s on a similar thing; Prince was very vocal in his disgust at the record label and now Taylor Swift has raised another element to the issue with her current situation.
So my general thoughts are the same for any artist but taking Taylor’s case specifically; she has always written (or co-written) and created her own songs. That is the music as well as the lyrics on every album released since she was a teenager. She is credited as musician of numerous instruments, as well as background vocal harmonies, she has been producer, executive producer, creative art designer, and such other contributions on the product she eventually releases with her name on the front.
The point I am wishing to highlight is simply that without Taylor Swift’s (or any singer/songwriter) creative talents and voice on the tracks there would be nothing. By creating music it allows the company too market promote and get revenue from it, so with that in mind I find myself surprised and puzzled just how she still owes Big Machine ‘millions of dollars and multiple assets’ there is clearly something askew with the balance of power between label and artist. If the biggest pop star on the planet for the last few years is still indebted to her label then clearly it reminds me of Prince writing ‘slave’ on his face. She created lots of original material that became 6 very popular albums and brought about a huge global fan base who then spend millions buying singles, CD’s, DVD’s, downloads, streaming, concert tickets and such merchandise….and although Taylor is now a mega success and has a personal fortune, why can she not just own her own songs? Singer/songwriters deserve much better deals.
I’m fully aware there are many people who all do a lot of work which is involved in producing an end product to get it from demo to number 1 hit record. No question Big Machine record label did their work from 2006 onwards at promoting and marketing the extremely talented and popular artist and deservedly in return Taylor’s sales made this small independent label an extremely successful company, primarily based on the sales of millions of units Taylor Swift sales generated.
It’s about time these gifted talents were acknowledged and their creative works recognised as art so they are not deemed as cash cows for businesses to rake in the millions.
I have long been aware that the creators of songs, the music and lyric writers hardly ever own their own songs which strikes me as a bizarre situation. I remember Paul McCartney saying this in the 80’s when Michael Jackson owned them. I recall reading that Bruce Springsteen had a legal battle with a manager about a dubious contract for a couple of years in the 70s on a similar thing; Prince was very vocal in his disgust at the record label and now Taylor Swift has raised another element to the issue with her current situation.
So my general thoughts are the same for any artist but taking Taylor’s case specifically; she has always written (or co-written) and created her own songs. That is the music as well as the lyrics on every album released since she was a teenager. She is credited as musician of numerous instruments, as well as background vocal harmonies, she has been producer, executive producer, creative art designer, and such other contributions on the product she eventually releases with her name on the front.
The point I am wishing to highlight is simply that without Taylor Swift’s (or any singer/songwriter) creative talents and voice on the tracks there would be nothing. By creating music it allows the company too market promote and get revenue from it, so with that in mind I find myself surprised and puzzled just how she still owes Big Machine ‘millions of dollars and multiple assets’ there is clearly something askew with the balance of power between label and artist. If the biggest pop star on the planet for the last few years is still indebted to her label then clearly it reminds me of Prince writing ‘slave’ on his face. She created lots of original material that became 6 very popular albums and brought about a huge global fan base who then spend millions buying singles, CD’s, DVD’s, downloads, streaming, concert tickets and such merchandise….and although Taylor is now a mega success and has a personal fortune, why can she not just own her own songs? Singer/songwriters deserve much better deals.
I’m fully aware there are many people who all do a lot of work which is involved in producing an end product to get it from demo to number 1 hit record. No question Big Machine record label did their work from 2006 onwards at promoting and marketing the extremely talented and popular artist and deservedly in return Taylor’s sales made this small independent label an extremely successful company, primarily based on the sales of millions of units Taylor Swift sales generated.
It’s about time these gifted talents were acknowledged and their creative works recognised as art so they are not deemed as cash cows for businesses to rake in the millions.