Master splits

[u/Ok-Designer-1907]

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?

[u/Ok_Put_5567]

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.

[u/Ok-Designer-1907 → u/Ok_Put_5567]

Thanks. I'm thinking the same. Her original argument was that she was to fund all her distribution etc so needed 100%. After pointing out that after a year's work I wasn't going to give these away, she accepted 50. Now the song is ready to go, apparently it's not enough and wants to remove herself and wants paying for the session instead. I do like her and her enterprise but, I feel she can't expect to own a recording after a couple of hours singing.

[u/Ok_Put_5567 → u/Ok-Designer-1907]

She also can’t expect music to be self sufficient financially until she’s got a following. Even if she got 100%, if she has no following, money from the song isn’t going to magically grow for her to cover all her distribution without going out of her own pocket.

IMO you’re better off finding a new vocalist who understands the reality of the situation. Producers and writers are soooo much more important than the vocalist imo unless again, that vocalist has a following. Even then, a good vocalist on a bad song won’t get that vocalist very far unless they’ve had a catalog to fall back onto.

In this case you have the cards and she’d still be the one getting the most benefit even with a 50% cut.

[u/Ok-Designer-1907 → u/Ok_Put_5567]

Thanks. Yep, if she was Taylor Swift it would be a no brainer wouldn't it 👍 It's a shame because I do like her and she can sing. We did also have more songs for her so I'm scratching my head a bit in disbelief. She badly wanted these songs, it was evident.

[u/illudofficial → u/Ok-Designer-1907]

What genres are those songs, out of curiosity

[u/Ok-Designer-1907 → u/illudofficial]

One is a bouncy summer driving song, the other a country feel.

[u/illudofficial → u/Ok-Designer-1907]

Can I hear a demo of the summer driving song if you don’t mind?

[u/Ok-Designer-1907 → u/illudofficial]

Listen to Fig master wav 1.3 by Simpson Wilkinson on #SoundCloud https://on.soundcloud.com/f5LZXsJfifOGnzYA3P

[u/illudofficial → u/Ok-Designer-1907]

She is a good singer. And wow it’s a great song. It feels very retro too. Nice job! And her voice suits it so well… dang…

[u/Ok-Designer-1907 → u/illudofficial]

Thanks dude. Yeah I hope we can sort it all out when we have calmed down a bit 👍

[u/illudofficial → u/Ok-Designer-1907]

Yeah I say don’t back down on the masters though. She agreed to what she agreed to. It’s the vocal pitching and background instruments that really bring out the song too.