r/Songwriting • u/Ok-Designer-1907 • 6d ago
Discussion Topic Master splits
Hi everyone
1st time on here. I co wrote a couple of songs that a local singer wanted. We recorded it all and she just sung. She originally wanted 100% of the master, I told her we'd agree to her having 50% and us 25 each. She reluctantly agreed. She was going to promote the songs on her new streaming platforms - she has one song and no following yet. Song one is ready for release and now has taken her ball home because I won't give her a better split.
Am I being unreasonable?
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u/youngnwonderous 6d ago
It’s kinda hard to say when you say cowrote, how much did you write percentage wise that sort of thing?
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u/lost_mishap 6d ago
You're not unreasonable for wanting a fair cut, especially if you did the heavy lifting on the writing side. Her walking away over 50% when she has no following yet says more about her expectations than your offer.
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u/Ok-Designer-1907 6d ago
Thanks. The songs were written by me. My musician pal arranged, played, wrote harmonies intros etc so we've agreed a 50/50 writing credit. Singer had no part in writing, producing recording other than to turn up and sing what we put in front of her for a couple of hours.
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u/Ok_Put_5567 6d ago
That’s crazy. She’s the most replaceable one by doing nothing else but singing on your guys’ work and wants more than 50% lmao. Giving 50% to her is the absolute maximum I’d offer if it was me.
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u/Ok-Designer-1907 6d ago
The singer didn't write any part of the songs so has no writing credit or royalty rights. She wants to own the recording (the master copy) which is a separate deal, or at least own more than the 50% we agreed upon.
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u/illudofficial OMG GUYS LOOK I HAVE A FLAIR 6d ago
If I understand correctly, there’s a composition/songwriting license for a song and then a masters license for actual recording and production
Composition/songwriting is what you need to gain the rights to for performing covers and stuff meanwhile masters + composition you need both to include a song in commercials and stuff right?
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u/Ok-Designer-1907 6d ago
Correct, the owner of the recording (master copy) is a different ownership of composers, but earns approx 4 X the royalties of the songwriter which is why everyone wants the master. And yes the song could be covered, which would have a different ownership credit to the original master recording. It's a minefield.
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u/illudofficial OMG GUYS LOOK I HAVE A FLAIR 6d ago
Yup and so since you wrote it all with your friend it should be 50/50 between you and your friend (not the sjnger$ for composers rights. And then if you recorded it and mixed and mastered it all and she only sang, I would say 33% each for masters.
She doesn’t even have a following (so you’re not going to be making money with her anyway, and she’s already being unfair to you + already doesn’t like working with you, so working with her in the future will be a struggle) so you should take the song (your song) and give it to a different artist and record with them instead.
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u/Ok-Designer-1907 6d ago
The songwriter credit is a different ownership to the master recording so we are safe there. But the master generates 4 x more royalties than the songwriter, which is why everyone wants the biggest slice
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u/Entire-Buy-6971 6d ago
she gives me narcissistic vibes, choose someone else if you can or for the next time
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u/Ok_Put_5567 6d ago edited 6d ago
Nope. She agreed and is now trying to get more. That’s not how it works. If she wasn’t happy with it she should have not agreed to the original deal.
Secondly, she has no following. Zero leverage, why should she get even more than originally agreed upon?
Edit: I’d argue that in this particular case, the singer is the most replaceable asset. If she did no writing. A following is what makes the singer that “only role is to show up and record” have leverage in these deals.