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In my posts last week I discussed the benefits of having a songwriting and/or production team and gave some tips on starting one. If you have not read those blogs, click here
In my last post, I talked about watching you who you get in bed with and discussed the consequences of working with someone you honestly don't know.
But what if the person you want to start a songwriting or production team is already a friend of yours. That should be easier, right? You feel you already know the person, right? Should friends start a songwriting or production team? Should relatives? Should spouses?
Again to get the answers to those questions, I'd suggest reading the bios of the urban songwriting/production teams and popular songwriting teams that I mentioned in my prior blogs from last week. You'll see that some of the teams are married couples, some are friends, some were business professionals who met each other and hooked up to form a business team.
But I want you to read this great article I found which gives some great advice for starting a business with friends and relatives:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/officelive/FX102414561033.aspx?ofcresset=1
Let me know what you think!
Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.blogspot.com
Showing posts with label songwriting teams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label songwriting teams. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Watch Who You Get in Bed With!
****to all my readers, I apologize for not posting more often and will change that as I refocus my energies to building up this blog and my other blogs so thanks for your patience****
I did some posts recently on starting and establishing a songwriting/production team. I gave some pointers on that and I want to continue that topic with this statement: watch who you get in bed with!
As an attorney, I am often asked to either draft a contract or look over one. What's written in the contract is what's written. In most cases what is written is written to protect the drafter, more so than both parties' interests in mind though that's not always the case. Read most terms in a terms of service on a social networking website and you'll quickly see my point. As I mentioned before, you can get an attorney to help you decipher the written terms of a contract. Attorneys can be beneficial that way.
But what you don't see on the paper are the people you are about to get in business with. The music business is a people business just like any other business: you have to learn how to work with different people and be in business together. So make sure that you really know who's who beforehand! Do your research! Find out as much as you can about the person. Make sure they are who they say they are. Google them. Make sure you can work with them. Don't be so eager to sign a record deal, publishing deal, distribution deal, etc., that you don't do your homework!
Suppose you are a songwriter, you sign a typical publishing contract where you have to write so many songs to fulfill your obligation or you have work for a music publisher for so many years. You better know who you are signing to, working with, collaborating with, going into business with, etc. before you sign those type of agreements! Do you wanna sign part of your publishing away to someone who is going to use and abuse you and then take part of your publishing even after you leave the situation because it's in the contract that if you leave, they still get a percentage of your publishing! And you left because you felt FORCED to leave the situation!
While I am all for establishing and starting your own production team, songwriting team, etc., just know that the relationships you build now and the contracts you enter into now can be as costly a mistake as marrying the wrong person. So please go into the songwriting and production teams and into a company with your eyes wide open about who you are entering into a business relationship. You'll be glad you did!
Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.blogpsot.com
I did some posts recently on starting and establishing a songwriting/production team. I gave some pointers on that and I want to continue that topic with this statement: watch who you get in bed with!
As an attorney, I am often asked to either draft a contract or look over one. What's written in the contract is what's written. In most cases what is written is written to protect the drafter, more so than both parties' interests in mind though that's not always the case. Read most terms in a terms of service on a social networking website and you'll quickly see my point. As I mentioned before, you can get an attorney to help you decipher the written terms of a contract. Attorneys can be beneficial that way.
But what you don't see on the paper are the people you are about to get in business with. The music business is a people business just like any other business: you have to learn how to work with different people and be in business together. So make sure that you really know who's who beforehand! Do your research! Find out as much as you can about the person. Make sure they are who they say they are. Google them. Make sure you can work with them. Don't be so eager to sign a record deal, publishing deal, distribution deal, etc., that you don't do your homework!
Suppose you are a songwriter, you sign a typical publishing contract where you have to write so many songs to fulfill your obligation or you have work for a music publisher for so many years. You better know who you are signing to, working with, collaborating with, going into business with, etc. before you sign those type of agreements! Do you wanna sign part of your publishing away to someone who is going to use and abuse you and then take part of your publishing even after you leave the situation because it's in the contract that if you leave, they still get a percentage of your publishing! And you left because you felt FORCED to leave the situation!
While I am all for establishing and starting your own production team, songwriting team, etc., just know that the relationships you build now and the contracts you enter into now can be as costly a mistake as marrying the wrong person. So please go into the songwriting and production teams and into a company with your eyes wide open about who you are entering into a business relationship. You'll be glad you did!
Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.blogpsot.com
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
More Do's and Don'ts for Songwriting and Production Teams
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In my prior post, I gave you some do's and don'ts for songwriting and production teams that I think will tremendously help your team! And in an effort to continue helping you and your songwriting and production team, I found another great article on tips that songwriting teams should consider when writing together. I think applying some of these tips will help you work better together: http://www.greatsongwriting.com/songwriting-teams.html
Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.blogspot.com
Interviewed.blogspot.com
Musicpanels.blogspot.com
Mobilemusicbusiness.blogspot.com
Musiclabels.blogspot.com
globalmusicbusiness.blogspot.com
In my prior post, I gave you some do's and don'ts for songwriting and production teams that I think will tremendously help your team! And in an effort to continue helping you and your songwriting and production team, I found another great article on tips that songwriting teams should consider when writing together. I think applying some of these tips will help you work better together: http://www.greatsongwriting.com/songwriting-teams.html
Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.blogspot.com
Interviewed.blogspot.com
Musicpanels.blogspot.com
Mobilemusicbusiness.blogspot.com
Musiclabels.blogspot.com
globalmusicbusiness.blogspot.com
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
The Do's and Don'ts for Songwriting and/or ProductionTeams
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In my prior posts, I listed some popular hitmaking songwriting and production teams. I also gave you the benefits of writing with a songwriting/production team. Now, I want to give some advice to new songwriting/production teams to help you work together effectively. Don't simply read these tips, apply them. Discuss them with your songwriting and production team. If you think it's necessary, print out these tips and have everybody sign these tips at the bottom as a sign that each member is committed to the songwriting/production team and will endeavor to make it another hitmaking songwriting/production team.
So here's the first set of tips and this first set of tips all revolve around one word: R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Without respect, no team can function! So follow these rules of respect:
Interviewed.blogspot.com
Musicpanels.blogspot.com
Mobilemusicbusiness.blogspot.com
Musiclabels.blogspot.com
globalmusicbusiness.blogspot.com
In my prior posts, I listed some popular hitmaking songwriting and production teams. I also gave you the benefits of writing with a songwriting/production team. Now, I want to give some advice to new songwriting/production teams to help you work together effectively. Don't simply read these tips, apply them. Discuss them with your songwriting and production team. If you think it's necessary, print out these tips and have everybody sign these tips at the bottom as a sign that each member is committed to the songwriting/production team and will endeavor to make it another hitmaking songwriting/production team.
So here's the first set of tips and this first set of tips all revolve around one word: R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Without respect, no team can function! So follow these rules of respect:
1. respect each other - there has to be respect for each other in order for any team to work. There is a reason why you selected who you selected to join your songwriting team. Remember why you chose that person and why they chose to join the team. That will help you remember to respect each other.
2. respect each other's feelings - recognize that each person is different and may have to be approached or critiqued differently.
3. respect each other's opinion - you're a songwriting or production team. Because you're a team, give your teammate(s) the opportunity to critique your music and your lyrics. If you obey the first rule of respect, and that is, respect each other, then you should have no problems receiving and respecting that person's opinion, even if you disagree with it.
4. respect the session - turn off the cell phone! One, the cell phone transmit signals into the recording whether you are currently on the phone or not and two, it's disruptive when it does actually vibrate or ring and it messes up the flow of the session. Respect the session by working! Work hard, sing your best, play your best, write your best. Treat your session like the job you say you want! And have fun doing it!
5. respect each other's time - when you set a time to write, honor it! When you set a day to write, honor that day and do it. Be a woman or man of your word because your team is counting on you to show up. Sure things come up, emergencies and such, but repeated times of no-shows, repeated times of just giving excuses of why you can't show up, shouldn't be allowed. Why? That brings me to my next point on respect:
6. respect the group - it's a collaborative effort. If you respect the group, then you will show up because you know your team is depending on you. You know that they have to have your input, your presence, your strengths, and your skills to make things work. Also respect the group by not acting like you ARE the group! Sometimes one person thinks that they are the end all be all of the group and if it weren't for that one person, there wouldn't be a group. That type person has lost respect for the group. Sure there are leaders in a group. But just remember, a leader without followers is a person who walks alone! So respect the fact that you are a part of a group because there is no "I" in team!
7. respect each other's strengths - if you know that your strengh is lyrics, do lyrics. If your teammate's strength is composing music, let them compose music. When teammates stay in their lane, there are no crashes. It doesn't mean you can't state your opinion or suggest to the producer what music you may hear in your head if you're the lyricist and vice versa. It just means respect each other's talents, gifts, and skill level.
8. respect each other's contributions - that means get a split sheet and write down what percentage each person contributed to the song while still in the session! Don't leave without doing one! Have an understanding with your teammate(s) on whether everyone in the room regardless of whether they hummed or played a note or wrote a word will get a percentage or not AT THE BEGINNING! Don't assume everyone understands. Write it out.
9. respect your business - remember that you are a part of the business of music. You must respect your business. Take it seriously. Handle your business as a team. Do your paperwork. Hire who you need to hire. Remember that you can't just simply produce and write songs unless you have a business team (which I will talk about in later blogs).
10. respect your craft - work on your craft as often as you can. Show your teammates and yourself that you respect what you do by one: doing it! Two, study! Three, turn your weaknesses into strengths - learn how to do what your other teammates are doing. Four, learn what's hot right now and what's not. You show it by being humble enough to learn from people , from books, from courses, etc. In fact, I have mentioned several books and classes that can and will help you learn the craft of songwriting and producing. Have you purchased those yet? Have you followed through?
11. respect your intellectual property - in other words, copyright your songs! Don't do all this hard work and then not protect it!
12. respect others - stop hating on other songwriting teams and production teams! Stop being mad that somebody else got there before you did. Or some other team was able to work with someone you wanted to work with. Stop being mad at what equipment some producer used. Stop being mad, period. Show respect to other songwriting/production teams for being on their grind, for using what they got, for creating music that SOMEBODY ELSE liked or else it wouldn't have been recorded, respect the fact that they understand the business., etc Show some respect!
13. respect yourself - now if you find that your thoughts, opinions, suggestions, ideas, contributions, etc. are not being respected, then perhaps it may be time for you to respect yourself, leave the group, and start your own songwriting and production team!
Follow these rules of respect and your songwriting/production team will be a force to be reckon with!
Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.blogspot.comInterviewed.blogspot.com
Musicpanels.blogspot.com
Mobilemusicbusiness.blogspot.com
Musiclabels.blogspot.com
globalmusicbusiness.blogspot.com
Monday, June 9, 2008
Urban songwriting/production teams
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In addition to some of the songwriting/production teams I wanted to make sure that I mentioned in my prior blog, I wanted to highlight some urban music production/songwriting teams. Again I think studying these songwriting and production teams will help new production and/or songwriting teams know that writing as a team is not only possible but profitable. So the following is just a few of the successful urban songwriting and production teams:
Ashford & Simpson
Babyface and L.A. Reid
Cool & Dre
Dre & Vidal
Gamble & Huff
Holland-Dozier-Holland
Jimmy Jam & Terris Lewis
Karma Productions
Organized Noise
Souldiggaz
Stargate
Tim & Bob
The Neptunes
The Underdogs
Interviewed.blogspot.com
Musicpanels.blogspot.com
Mobilemusicbusiness.blogspot.com
Musiclabels.blogspot.com
globalmusicbusiness.blogspot.com
In addition to some of the songwriting/production teams I wanted to make sure that I mentioned in my prior blog, I wanted to highlight some urban music production/songwriting teams. Again I think studying these songwriting and production teams will help new production and/or songwriting teams know that writing as a team is not only possible but profitable. So the following is just a few of the successful urban songwriting and production teams:
Ashford & Simpson
Babyface and L.A. Reid
Cool & Dre
Dre & Vidal
Gamble & Huff
Holland-Dozier-Holland
Jimmy Jam & Terris Lewis
Karma Productions
Organized Noise
Souldiggaz
Stargate
Tim & Bob
The Neptunes
The Underdogs
Google these songwriting and production teams! Find out what they are currently working on. Find out what hits they have had. Study their history. Learn from their successes as well as their mistakes! I think again that by doing so, you and your production and/or songwriting team can duplicate these great songwriting and production teams' success and avoid any mistakes!
Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.blogspot.comInterviewed.blogspot.com
Musicpanels.blogspot.com
Mobilemusicbusiness.blogspot.com
Musiclabels.blogspot.com
globalmusicbusiness.blogspot.com
Friday, June 6, 2008
Why form a songwriting team?
Did you enjoy my latest post about songwriting teams? Reading the stories of songwriting teams was good because you get a chance to find out how people met, how long they were a songwriting or production team, what hits they wrote together, who they previously wrote songs with, which artist they wrote for, etc. It's good reading! So check out that post if you did not!
So the question is though: why form a songwriting team? Why have a production team? If I can write a whole song by myself, why work with anyone else? Why give someone else credit? Why would I choose to include someone in on a song and then have to share the royalties?
Well, you don't HAVE to do anything. You can write a whole song from start to finish. You can make a beat yourself. You can write all the lyrics. You can write or compose solo, get all the credit, get all the money, and all the fame.
But here's some benefits to writing or composing with a songwriting and/or production team:
1. A songwriting/production team can help you write more songs. You can writer more songs with a songwriting/production team than you can by yourself. If you only have to write the hook, or do the bass line to a song, think of how many bass lines or hooks you could come up with, knowing your partner's got the verses or the melody.
2. A songwriting/production team can help you finish a song. Each person can write different parts of the song or help with finishing a song you've started but couldn't finish. In most cases, you can depend on the other person or persons to help you with a line or part or lick that you're stuck on.
3. A songwriting/production team can help you brainstorm more ideas and thus generate more songs.
4. A songwriting/production team can help you remember melodies, lines, titles, lyrics, and licks that you forgot so you can develop that part better.
5. A songwriting/production team can help you develop your craft - Since we don't all think alike, having another person's style that's different from ours will help develop your craft so that your songs won't all sound alike. While some producers have a certain sound, and you know I encouraged that in one of my prior blogs (click here to read it), you don't want people to say your song sounds just like the one you did on another project.
6. A songwriting/production team will help you have versatility in your music.
7. A team will help encourage you to continue. If you are dedicated to a group, sometimes that dedication to the group will help you stay dedicated to your dream.
8. A songwriting team helps eliminate weaknesses - if you are a strong lyricist but not a strong melody writer, hooking up with a melody writer will help you write better songs with better melodies, finish your songs, give life to your lyrics, help you write better lyrics since your lyrics will have to fit with the music, etc.
Same with producers who are great with making a beat but you need someone to help with writing lyrics or with mixing, etc.
9. A songwriting team helps with getting recognized. Typically we don't all know the same people so imagine having several people on a production team who meet different people in the industry or worked with different people at different times coming together to write and based on relationships, they are able to get their songs recorded. It happens in the music industry all the time.
10.Having a songwriting team helps you stay on your grind. Being accountable to a team will help you stay focused on doing what you need to do to make it in this industry.
So while you may be able to get all the credit, get all the money, and all the fame from doing everything yourself, consider the above benefits for writing and/or producing with a songwriting and/or production team and ask yourself, am I missing out?
Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.blogspot.com
Interviewed.blogspot.com
Musicpanels.blogspot.com
Mobilemusicbusiness.blogspot.com
Musiclabels.blogspot.com
globalmusicbusiness.blogspot.com
So the question is though: why form a songwriting team? Why have a production team? If I can write a whole song by myself, why work with anyone else? Why give someone else credit? Why would I choose to include someone in on a song and then have to share the royalties?
Well, you don't HAVE to do anything. You can write a whole song from start to finish. You can make a beat yourself. You can write all the lyrics. You can write or compose solo, get all the credit, get all the money, and all the fame.
But here's some benefits to writing or composing with a songwriting and/or production team:
1. A songwriting/production team can help you write more songs. You can writer more songs with a songwriting/production team than you can by yourself. If you only have to write the hook, or do the bass line to a song, think of how many bass lines or hooks you could come up with, knowing your partner's got the verses or the melody.
2. A songwriting/production team can help you finish a song. Each person can write different parts of the song or help with finishing a song you've started but couldn't finish. In most cases, you can depend on the other person or persons to help you with a line or part or lick that you're stuck on.
3. A songwriting/production team can help you brainstorm more ideas and thus generate more songs.
4. A songwriting/production team can help you remember melodies, lines, titles, lyrics, and licks that you forgot so you can develop that part better.
5. A songwriting/production team can help you develop your craft - Since we don't all think alike, having another person's style that's different from ours will help develop your craft so that your songs won't all sound alike. While some producers have a certain sound, and you know I encouraged that in one of my prior blogs (click here to read it), you don't want people to say your song sounds just like the one you did on another project.
6. A songwriting/production team will help you have versatility in your music.
7. A team will help encourage you to continue. If you are dedicated to a group, sometimes that dedication to the group will help you stay dedicated to your dream.
8. A songwriting team helps eliminate weaknesses - if you are a strong lyricist but not a strong melody writer, hooking up with a melody writer will help you write better songs with better melodies, finish your songs, give life to your lyrics, help you write better lyrics since your lyrics will have to fit with the music, etc.
Same with producers who are great with making a beat but you need someone to help with writing lyrics or with mixing, etc.
9. A songwriting team helps with getting recognized. Typically we don't all know the same people so imagine having several people on a production team who meet different people in the industry or worked with different people at different times coming together to write and based on relationships, they are able to get their songs recorded. It happens in the music industry all the time.
10.Having a songwriting team helps you stay on your grind. Being accountable to a team will help you stay focused on doing what you need to do to make it in this industry.
So while you may be able to get all the credit, get all the money, and all the fame from doing everything yourself, consider the above benefits for writing and/or producing with a songwriting and/or production team and ask yourself, am I missing out?
Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.blogspot.com
Interviewed.blogspot.com
Musicpanels.blogspot.com
Mobilemusicbusiness.blogspot.com
Musiclabels.blogspot.com
globalmusicbusiness.blogspot.com
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Popular songwriting teams
*** you may have to refresh your browser to see my latest post********
In my prior post, I indicated that I was going to start talking about songwriting teams and their importance. So I wanted to first list some popular songwriting teams just to demonstrate that there is power in collaboration and team work. As reported by wikipedia.com, here are just some of the popular songwriting teams:
John Lennon and Paul McCartney
The Motown team of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland (collectively known as Holland-Dozier-Holland)
The team of Stock Aitken Waterman
George and Ira Gershwin
Rodgers and Hammerstein
Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
Burt Bacharach and Hal David
Gerry Goffin and Carole King
Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry
Brian Wilson (and The Bee Gees)
Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong
Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann
Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora
Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman
Daryl Hall and John Oates
Morrissey and Johnny Marr
Elton John and Bernie Taupin
Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards
Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam
Ian Brown and John Squire
Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway
Koshi Inaba and Tak Matsumoto
Guy Fletcher and Doug Flett
Geoff Stephens and Tony Macaulay
Rodgers and Hart
Sherman & Sherman
Albert Hammond and Mike Hazelwood
Joe Strummer and Mick Jones
Ashford & Simpson
Robert Plant and Jimmy Page
Steven Tyler and Joe Perry
Eddie Galan, Pete Doherty and Carl Barat
Don Henley and Glenn Frey
Roger Waters and David Gilmour
Brian Tatler and Sean Harris
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
Daron Malakian and Serj Tankian
Grant McLennon and Robert Forster
Nicky Wire and Richey James Edwards
Steve Laine and Ken Cox
James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich
Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe
Max Martin and others at Cheiron Studios
I would suggest clicking on some of the links above so you can read the stories of how these teams met, what songs they wrote and recorded, and read the history behind each one. I think it's great reading to help show the significance of collaborating and working with a team of producers and songwriters.
Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.blogspot.com
Interviewed.blogspot.com
Musicpanels.blogspot.com
Mobilemusicbusiness.blogspot.com
Musiclabels.blogspot.com
globalmusicbusiness.blogspot.com
In my prior post, I indicated that I was going to start talking about songwriting teams and their importance. So I wanted to first list some popular songwriting teams just to demonstrate that there is power in collaboration and team work. As reported by wikipedia.com, here are just some of the popular songwriting teams:
John Lennon and Paul McCartney
The Motown team of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland (collectively known as Holland-Dozier-Holland)
The team of Stock Aitken Waterman
George and Ira Gershwin
Rodgers and Hammerstein
Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
Burt Bacharach and Hal David
Gerry Goffin and Carole King
Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry
Brian Wilson (and The Bee Gees)
Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong
Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann
Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora
Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman
Daryl Hall and John Oates
Morrissey and Johnny Marr
Elton John and Bernie Taupin
Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards
Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam
Ian Brown and John Squire
Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway
Koshi Inaba and Tak Matsumoto
Guy Fletcher and Doug Flett
Geoff Stephens and Tony Macaulay
Rodgers and Hart
Sherman & Sherman
Albert Hammond and Mike Hazelwood
Joe Strummer and Mick Jones
Ashford & Simpson
Robert Plant and Jimmy Page
Steven Tyler and Joe Perry
Eddie Galan, Pete Doherty and Carl Barat
Don Henley and Glenn Frey
Roger Waters and David Gilmour
Brian Tatler and Sean Harris
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
Daron Malakian and Serj Tankian
Grant McLennon and Robert Forster
Nicky Wire and Richey James Edwards
Steve Laine and Ken Cox
James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich
Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe
Max Martin and others at Cheiron Studios
I would suggest clicking on some of the links above so you can read the stories of how these teams met, what songs they wrote and recorded, and read the history behind each one. I think it's great reading to help show the significance of collaborating and working with a team of producers and songwriters.
Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.blogspot.com
Interviewed.blogspot.com
Musicpanels.blogspot.com
Mobilemusicbusiness.blogspot.com
Musiclabels.blogspot.com
globalmusicbusiness.blogspot.com
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