Split publishing, identifying as composer
Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 5:04 pm
I note that there are often cases where a composer has to (or agrees to) give up a share of publishing rights to someone who has not actually contributed to the writing of a song. For example, I understand Elvis Presley's companies were routinely given a share of publishing by composers who wanted him to record their songs. However, I also note that, sticking with the example of Elvis Presley, he is not actually listed as a composer on record labels, sleeves or CD booklets, for songs for which (my research shows) he shared the publishing.
A while back I wrote and recorded some music and someone I knew was willing to do some production/technical work (not musical input) on it and provide access to a possible market for it. I agreed that this was worth a 50% share of any proceeds from the music but a sticking point was that, for various reasons, I wanted to be identified as the only composer (which it was agreed I definitely was). The other party, however, insisted that the only way he could be sure of a long-term revenue stream from any tune was to have his name on it as co-composer when registering it with (e.g.) PRS, even though he had not actually written any of the music. I therefore declined to proceed.
I can understand his stance if that is true - that without 'having his name on' a given tune he couldn't be sure of a long-term stream of any proceeds direct to him from collecting companies like PRS, without having to rely on other agreements with people such as myself. That's just business caution.
However, I don't know how PRS (etc) works but if Elvis Presley's companies got a share of publishing without being listed as co-composers on recordings etc then surely there must be a way that I can assign 50% of publishing while still being listed as the only composer which still lets the other person get paid direct (?) I'd be grateful for any advice. Many thanks (sorry for long post).
A while back I wrote and recorded some music and someone I knew was willing to do some production/technical work (not musical input) on it and provide access to a possible market for it. I agreed that this was worth a 50% share of any proceeds from the music but a sticking point was that, for various reasons, I wanted to be identified as the only composer (which it was agreed I definitely was). The other party, however, insisted that the only way he could be sure of a long-term revenue stream from any tune was to have his name on it as co-composer when registering it with (e.g.) PRS, even though he had not actually written any of the music. I therefore declined to proceed.
I can understand his stance if that is true - that without 'having his name on' a given tune he couldn't be sure of a long-term stream of any proceeds direct to him from collecting companies like PRS, without having to rely on other agreements with people such as myself. That's just business caution.
However, I don't know how PRS (etc) works but if Elvis Presley's companies got a share of publishing without being listed as co-composers on recordings etc then surely there must be a way that I can assign 50% of publishing while still being listed as the only composer which still lets the other person get paid direct (?) I'd be grateful for any advice. Many thanks (sorry for long post).