B1Horn

Hi Tony,

I was called today to do a 30 minute session for a guy who is submitting a theme song for a contest. Apparently, there is a major national TV show (broadcast daily) looking for a new theme song and they've invited songwriters to submit mp3s. I'd be laying down some flugelhorn tracks for him.

I have very little experience with the business side of this and am unsure as to whether I should accept a single fee for the session or if I should have some kind of contract that would allow me to be compensated if the song ends up being used every day. I'm thinking that maybe the mp3 would just be a "demo" of the song and that the network would re-record it using their own studio musicians. Is that how it works?

Any advice or information that you or others in the forum could provide would be appreciated.

bigtiny

My guess is that in this situation you're probably not going to be able to negotiate any kind of royalty sharing arrangement. As you aptly point out, he's submitting the song to a contest for consideration, your performance is simply to demonstrate the song. So, it's probably a session fee, sign the release situation.....

bigtiny

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kadleck

That may certainly be the case. However, to protect yourself you should ask. If it gets picked up (as is) are they going to file a union contract? If not, then who is at fault? Is it the folks having the contest (who are trying to get "something for nothing")? Or is it the composer (trying to get away without paying re-use)?

The way I look at it, if the composer is getting paid "legit", you should too. If he/she is not, then you must decide what you want to do.

About 10-12 years ago I did a "buyout" for FOX Sports. It was (is) their baseball theme. Now they use it for baseball, news,etc... During the summer I hear it several times per day, EVERY day. I made a whopping $200, over a DECADE ago. AND, we triple tracked!!! Lame.

Then again, if I didn't do it someone else would have. A tough pill to swallow.

Tony

bnbtrpt

All this for $200? They got their moneys worth thats for sure. Sounds great by the way.







I thought that you might like the yankees touch too.

kadleck

Yep, that's the one.

Go Sox!

Tony

trumpetdoc

Next time you post a video on Tony's forum, be sure to use his beloved Red Sox and not the hated Yankees. (Or was it intentional to give him a little tweek?)

trumpetdoc

BTW...

Hey Tony, did you do all of the trumpet tracks or was there another trumpet player on the session as well?

kadleck

There were 5 of us (all triple tracking), so what you hear is actually 15 tpts.

I forgot - I actually made $250 because I played lead. Woohoo!

Now I feel guilty - maybe I should give the $50 back to FOX since they are probably struggling now.

bnbtrpt

I think good ole Rupert Murdoch is doing just fine.