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I have also been asked to write a new song for a new movie that has just gone in to production and am going in to the studio to record a song I co-wrote with Chris Cummings (Warner Brothers). More information and audio is at my website www.tyler-roberts.com and my management is Legget and Associates.
Thank you very much for your time
Yours Sincerely Tyler Roberts"
![Questions and Answers [Number 14]](qanda.gif){kind=small}
"Vicci Esselle, the Managing Director of the Serious Writers Guild at 'Makehits' gets recognition at The Savoy hotel, London, England proudly watched by Dec"
You may hate Dec Cluskey or LOVE him but can he help you? DEC helps all those who ask! Now in 29 countries. Can he help you? you just have to ask, you know.
Quick Reference: check the numbers of the questions then
scroll to the answer.....why not ask your own question? This is only a tiny
indication of what you can get from:
(1) "I've been asked to give some of my music to a company that broadcasts exclusively to supermarkets like Asda [Walmart], Tesco?"
(2) "As far as our bio is concerned: What sort of things should we write?"
(3)"If you were me would you try to scrape the funds together to pay for your product?"
(4)"The producer wants a cut of the writing, what should I do?"
(5)"The noise on my guitar increases when I move the lead?"
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(1)
Hi Dec,
Again a question about publishing:
I've been asked to give some of my music to a company that broadcasts
exclusively to supermarkets like Asda [Walmart], Tesco, etc… I've been told that if my music
was published than I would get paid (good to have your own publishing company,
uh ?). When I tried to get some more info on the subject I was told that PRS
takes a sample of their shows once in a while and then the company pays to PRS
"only" the royalties to the music in the sample.
To me that is not the way that PRS works, 'cause that means that for those
few people that would get paid, there are a huge amount of other artist that
wouldn't get paid, living mainly everything to the chance of being in that famous
sample.
Am I right ? The reason for this question is that I'm trying to understand if
those people are misinformed or I'm just wasting my time. Thanks
luca del bianco
Hi Luca
With this kind of 'licensing' deal you would be wise to seek a 'buy out' deal with the company who are supplying Asda, as you will have little confirmation of what is played and how often.
As regards the PRS royalties for the public performance of your music this would be logged in the MCPS license which Asda/supplying company is compelled to supply to MCPS/PRS before the first airing of the piece/pieces. This tends to be quite technical and you would be well advised to confirm the timings of your music in the final product supplied to Asda. you would be wise to talk to PRS/MCPS about your entitlement as regards the royalties for playing your creations.
Sample MCPS forms are included in the 'How to Start Your Own Publishing Company'.
Apart from PRS/MCPS you should also talk with PPL [Phonographic Performance Limited] as they should be made aware of the planned inclusion of your work [if you have performed the work]. This is a separate royalty specifically for the performer of the music. If it includes Video then you should contact VPL [Video Performance Limited....same organisation].
If I was in your position this is precisely and exactly what I would do.
The production company are right in saying PPL take a sample....this is similar to Radio station play....they pay over an annual negotiated fee but this does not affect your entitlement from PRS, MCPS, PPL, VPL.
Regards
Dec dec@makehits.com
Where do the Pro's go to check the Hit Potential of their material? Answer: The 'MAKEHITS' Demo Consultation Service. Check out www.makehits.co.uk/demo.htm .... now you can have the professional service for professionals.
(2)
Hi Dec,
I know your really busy so i'll try to keep this short:
My group Co4Sure, an Australian Hip Hop outfit, is about to submit its first
demo to a record company in our home town. The company is looking for an Aust.
hip hop group in particular (hip hop is really takin off here) and the due date
for the demo is in five days time.
I was wondering if u have any words of wisdom for us as far as our bio is
concerned: What sort of things should we write? How do we show the A n R
people that we are professional business people that understand we are
concerned with what we can do for the company and not what the company can do
for us.
I have read your book: "So, You're Thinking of getting a record deal" and it has
great stuff in there but do you have anything else to add that might help set
us apart from the rest of the deal seekers?
We appreciate any and all feedback u have to give.
Cheers,
Luke
Hi Luke
It is a great pity that you are submitting your material before you have done the 'How To Make A $Million'program...because you are going to change so much in the next few months.
It would be impossible for me to give you all that information in an Email.
It is a case of gradual change in your music attitude and particularly a change in YOU that is going to happen over the next ten months.
I always advise against going for a deal until you have everything in place, the band, the live gigs, the merchandising, the white label sales, the database, the fanbase. The live performing has got to be awesome, you should have 'sold-out' signs every gig, queses down the street....and most of all a database/fanbase of 30,000 plus! Record companies merely act as marketing organisations for already successful material....they no longer 'test' material...they expect you to supply the tested Hits.
You only get one chance with Record companies...so all this has to be in place, otherwise you could lose the best opportunity of your career....think about it!
Also - think about the fact that it always takes dozens and dozens of approaches, sometimes to record companies and publishing companies to get the right deal for you.....it would be totally unusual to be signed on a mega deal by the first company you approached.....mind you....I did!
Regards
Dec dec@makehits.com
Where do the Pro's go to check the Hit Potential of their material? Answer: The 'MAKEHITS' Demo Consultation Service. Check out www.makehits.co.uk/demo.htm .... now you can have the professional service for professionals. (3)
Dear Dec,
I have just stumbled across your web-site and, very unusually, spent over an hour exploring - very impressed.
I am nearly 39, with five young kids, strapped for cash after leaving an insurance management role in London a couple of years ago, but still desperate to make a living from my songwriting.
I have an average voice and have used this on the occasional unsolicited demos I have sent off. These are created using a 12 track digital Akai and a Yamaha keyboard, often using the built in accompaniment backing due to lack of playing skills/ co-performers which I realise is not the best idea in the world. However, I do have an underlying confidence that I am capable of writing top quality stuff and have had an item on Ant & Dec's Sat am show, reached the final of the Tipperary Intl. Song Contest and had material played on local BBC radio.
I am most impressed and inspired by what I have seen on your site. The question is, 'If you were me would you try to scrape the funds together to pay for your product, or would you consider there is never likely to be a profitable role for someone in my circumstances, who is not currently a true performer, without any real contacts in the music world?
Kindest regards and thank you for your time and patience.
Graham Neale
Hi Graham
Sorry for the delay...I've been overseas and you got my direct email address.
First, you must be doing something right to get stuff played with such primitive equipment!
>>>>>>>>'If you were me would you try to scrape the funds together to pay for your product, or would you consider there is never likely to be a profitable role for someone in my circumstances, who is not currently a true performer, without any real contacts in the music world?<<<<
I am prompted to say right away that if the price of our 'How to Make A $Million From your Music' program is a problem for you then you are doing something, if not a lot of things in life, wrong! That is not meant to offend..it is just a statement of fact.
You have already proved that it could be profitable. You have got this far with no real knowledge of what is required in this highly skilled, highly professional world of music.
Performing is a skill that can be learned, particularly if you crave success enough. The most important part is 'attitude'. It is a case of being shown and told what works and what doesn't....the manual is shown on Friday night every week...it's called Top Of The Pops.
And as regards 'contacts'...you couldn't be further from the truth. This is a business with the most level playing field...songs are Hits and make money because they are what the public want...it is as simple as that. And every Record comapny and every Publishing Company is craving Potential Hits every hour of every day!
You have an all too familiar story! Just a comment on your strategy so far..........this may make you angry...if it does, then that is a good sign! It means you are not a tire kicker and a time waster. We only deal with focussed, talented, success-seeking music makers...if you do not fit in, please stop reading now.
Proper record companies, do not exist to test wannabe's material...they are marketing organisations that know how to sell tried, tested, successful music that is supported by a stunning, 'sellable' artist or band.
>>>>>.how do you, the artist, get in touch, primarily, with the major record companies?<<<<<<
Simple...we have this wonderful stuff called paper...plus envelopes....and we have a wonderful facility called a word processor....we simply write a letter. But the trick is "what do you say in the letter?" Sorry, that is the sort of information only the Members of my 'Serious Writers Guild' get, when they join me. I have never sent one, unsolicited demo in my life!
You automatically get life membership by buying 'How to Make A $Million From Your Music'...the award winning ten month program - you also get full access to myself by phone, fax, Email and letter.
Our business is extremely simple and totally misunderstood by 99.99999% of novices. [a novice is someone who has not made a $fortune from this easy business]
You simply have to provide a product that the record buying/video watching/concert going public want...simple!
The sequence is:
INSTANT SUCCESS [usually after ten years.....or three years with a mentor like me]
There is no luck involved, there are no 'contacts', there is no 'right time right place', there are no 'tricks'. There is no such thing as being in the wrong country. There is only knowledge, application, persistence, a killer attitude and an ability to have a focused, 'get out of my way' approach
Regards
Dec dec@makehits.com
Where do the Pro's go to check the Hit Potential of their material? Answer: The 'MAKEHITS' Demo Consultation Service. Check out www.makehits.co.uk/demo.htm .... now you can have the professional service for professionals.
(4)
Hi Dec,
I have an enquiry, and didn't really know who else I could ask about it.
The situation is, that I have just spent a few days in a recording studio, recording three tracks written by myself. I took sheet music and guitar chord sheets into the studio with me for the producer to work with. On two of the songs there have been no changes made to the music, all the chords are the same. On one song the producer suggested a key change for the chorus to lift it.
At the end of the recording session the producer asked me to sign away 2/12 of each song, meaning I would still retain 4/12 for the lyrics and 4/12 for the melody, but only 2/12 of the music. I am unsure of my rights. I can understand he could be entitled to some points for making the key change in one of the songs, but not the other two. My opinion is that he was paid to produce and that's all he has done. Furthermore, I paid for a session guitarist who added lead breaks to the songs, thus adding his own creativity, however he has not asked for any points, and it seems to me that he would be in more of a position to ask for music points.
So, could you enlighten as to what my rights are? And the best way to go about this situation. So far I said I wouldn't sign the paper until I had thought it through, but really I wanted to ask for your advice before I made a move.
Kellyann Lea
Hi Kellyann
I note that you are not a member of The Serious Writers Guild...a pity!
I explain all these matters in my writings.
You are on sticky ground, as you should clarify all these matters before you ever start recording the piece. It is very difficult after the event. A key change does not constitute 'co-writing'.
It is also much easier if you are the Publisher. He therefore could npot dictate terms to yuou as you would be issueing the Publishing contract.
I always advise to take out a A4 manilla envelope, as you start the session, and write the title, the writers, the agreed split on the envelope. If there are any changes to this arrangement then write it on the envelope...in front of as many witnesses as possible. All the music and all track sheets, mix notes should be stored in there, and placed in a secure place. [what are the original session notes for 'Yesterday' worth today?]
He will probably not release the recording until you agree. But if you paid for the session then he has been paid [I assume he owned the studio]. If he did not alert you to the percentage required before the session then he is in error.
However he holds the master.
Put it down to experience and never let it happen again. Join
Regards
Dec dec@makehits.com
Where do the Pro's go to check the Hit Potential of their material? Answer: The 'MAKEHITS' Demo Consultation Service. Check out www.makehits.co.uk/demo.htm .... now you can have the professional service for professionals.
(5)
Hello Dec
I have a problem with noise from my guitar amp (Yamaha). When it is switched on there is a terrible drone buzzing,crackle noise coming from it. It is much worse if I just move the guitar cable a little. I thought it must be a fault with the amp. So I have just exchanged for a new amp, but problem is still there. I have read your "one minute with dec" publications again to
see if if i could see a cure for this .
Could you please advise.
Thank you
Ian Reygan.
Nottingham.
Hi Ian
It sounds like it could be a number of problems. Sort them out one at a time - so that you will know which one was the problem.
1) Most obvious would be the lead you are using. Many shop-bought leads are made to a price. They can look good but have very poor signal carrying properties. It could be the quality or could be simply that the 'earth' or screen is disconnected at either plug end. Or, if you constantly coil the lead, and knot it on itself, you may have damaged the lead, internally, two or three inches from either plug.
2) The wiring of the pick-ups could be suspect. Again, it sounds like an earth or screen connection has come adrift within the internal wiring of the guitar.
3) It could be interference on your electric supply in the house. It is important to find a 'quiet' spot in any studio or home environment. Mark the floor and always use that spot for recording. Flourescent tubes can interfere, computer monitors are notorious for creating noise. Switch off before using your guitar. If it is a three pick guitar [Fender or the like] check does the noise diminish when you change from phase to in-phase...this would indicate electrical interference.
4) If the problem arises on stage it will be due to the thyristor cabling [used to work the theatre lighting system]. Ensure that guitar lead is well away from lighting cables.
You must check for noise by plugging direct into the amp...all effects units will increase noise.
Finally, a little known fact is that most audio-loop systems [for hard of hearing folk] in theatres and clubs will interfere with high impedance instrument leads. It is extremely difficult to convince proprietors of this - but it is fact!
Regards
Dec dec@makehits.com
Where do the Pro's go to check the Hit Potential of their material? Answer: The 'MAKEHITS' Demo Consultation Service. Check out www.makehits.co.uk/demo.htm .... now you can have the professional service for professionals.
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