David Bruce Murray
Jan 09, 2010
Food For Thought|Observations
Pay To Co-Write Songs
Original Greater Vision member, Chris Allman has a new website offering a co-writing and publishing service to would be songwriters. Click HERE to view his site.
In a nutshell, Allman offers three packages. He or one of his staff members will co-write 2, 5 or “unlimited” songs with you for $25, $35, or $50 per month respectively. If Allman creates a demo and you bought the $25 package, it will cost an additional $100 (per song, I assume). Demos are included with the $50 package. (The $35 package is unclear, since the description cuts off mid-sentence.) Allman will also publish your songs.
This could be a good way to work with an established songwriter on a temporary basis to improve songwriting skills. The monthly fees are very reasonable if you view them as instruction costs. Allman is likely to be dealing with some people who need a lot of help with their songwriting, and individual attention doesn’t come free.
I think more details should be defined, though. The fees that are, as I’ve mentioned, very reasonable for instruction, also have future implications
Publishing is included in the cost, which could become a slippery slope later if the song is ever recorded. Songwriters don’t typically pay publishers to accept their songs. It isn’t clear whether Allman’s company would continue to retain publishing for a song after the songwriter stops paying the monthly fee. It also isn’t clear if songs will be actively pitched to artists, or if that will be up to the publisher. If a songwriter pays for a demo, they’re going to expect the publisher to pitch it.
Royalty splits aren’t clear either. Because they’re being paid up front, Allman’s staff of writers may consider themselves to be coaches or work-for-hire writers who receive no credit and receive no royalties. Or, they may consider themselves to be co-writers who deserve credit and a part of the songwriter’s portion of the royalties.
Demo costs are clear on the $25 and $50 packages, but what isn’t clear is who will make the call as to when a song is good enough to merit a demo. A songwriter may buy the $25 package, work with a staff writer on two songs, and be willing to pay $200 at the end of that month for demos…yet it may be painfully obvious that the song is no good. So does Allman go ahead with recording the demo and embarrass the reputation of his publishing company by pitching it to artists, or does he advise the songwriter to save their money?
I do think this sort of service could be beneficial to people who have some basic skills and want to improve. It would be better if the publishing element of the arrangement was optional due to the implications I’ve already mentioned. Still, the opportunity to write a few songs with an established songwriter would be a good educational experience, even if it means sharing the publishing on a couple of songs. Sure, there’s always the nagging question, “What if it becomes another ‘Midnight Cry,’ and I’ve signed away the publishing?” The odds of that happening for an inexperienced songwriter just starting out are probably as slim as the odds for winning the lottery.
UPDATE: Chris Allman replied in a discussion at Southern Gospel Forums where I raised these same questions. You can read his response HERE.
More or less, he wrote that his company would retain publishing on songs written under the program, but they will co-publish if the songwriter has their own publishing company or is signed to another publishing company. There’s no permanent arrangement, however. A writer leaving the program would not be required to continue publishing with Allman’s company.
He wrote that royalty splits on the songwriter side would be determined based on whether the staff actually participated in the writing.
Allman also wrote, “We will use our discretion in regards to whether a song is ready to be demoed and pitched or not. If we feel as if it still needs work, we will let the writer know as our reputation is at stake as well.”
