Singer of one of my songs goes on to be famous; is there a next step?

[Arrendajo]

I’m a performing songwriter myself, and if I had ever done a vocal for someone and agreed to a flat rate for my vocal work, then found fame and fortune myself on even a moderate scale, I would never begrudge a single penny to the person who paid for my services and now stands to profit a bit from the runoff of my fame. Because I KNOW how hard it is to make a living in music. I am happy as hell to have made $72.50 for a solo show I did on Valentine’s Day ($145 take at the door I split 50/50 with the house). $72.50 is pretty good pay for an hour long show. Except that doesn’t include the 40 hours I spent assembling the songs and writing a humorous monolog to link them and practicing practicing practicing.

[mack]

FWIW You probably know about this already but anyway - In this Rick Beato video (I’ve been enjoying the series) he talks briefly about using SoundExchange as a royalty collection service if you’re on streaming platforms.

[voltaire]

I don’t have any relevant experience in the business, but after the lawyer, your next stop should probably be her record label. Some kind of deal for your existing song/album with an eye towards future deals involving their other artists.

[Beckdawrek]

@Moriarty

Just because you don’t have something in writing doesn’t mean that you didn’t have a contract. Oral agreements happen all the time, and only certain contracts are required to be in writing; the challenge is just proving them if there is a disagreement. You have a bit of a paper trail, in the form of emails, but there is certainly ambiguity in that (as noted upthread, was the agreement to make a song that could only be released as part of an album? Can it be released as a single?).

What to do? Well, as Beckdawrek brilliantly suggested, you should call her. Let her know that you own this master recording of a single that you (who own it) have released. You would appreciate her involvement in promoting it, and would be prepared to split X% if she does. Otherwise, you’re going to market it on your own.

At that point, she has options:

1. Tell you, Good luck with your venture, and let it remain an obscure one-off.
2. Tell you she’ll promote it to make some more money (or even better, talk to you possibly about other projects)

What’s the downside? She’ll sue you? Over what? It’s already out there on I-Tunes, because you own it. As long as you don’t go talking up an endorsement you don’t have, you should be fine. What’s the risk?

Thank you😁

[DooWahDiddy]

@mack

FWIW You probably know about this already but anyway - In this Rick Beato video (I’ve been enjoying the series) he talks briefly about using SoundExchange as a royalty collection service if you’re on streaming platforms.

Yes, I use CDBaby, which does essentially the same thing; pays out for streams on Spotify, YouTube, Rhapsody, etc., as well as iTunes downloads. Thanks, though!

A small update: I contacted some radio stations and consulting services, and one of them said they were going to forward the song to the head of their promotion department. Not sure what that means yet, but we’ll find out!

[Beckdawrek]

I really love your song.

[WordMan]

@DooWahDiddy

Yes, I use CDBaby, which does essentially the same thing; pays out for streams on Spotify, YouTube, Rhapsody, etc., as well as iTunes downloads. Thanks, though!

A small update: I contacted some radio stations and consulting services, and one of them said they were going to forward the song to the head of their promotion department. Not sure what that means yet, but we’ll find out!

Hey - best of luck. Unfortunately, you may not believe this, but I don’t use iTunes. (I also don’t have Spotify - god I’m old). If there is any other way to hear it, let me know.

[Alley_Dweller]

@WordMan

Hey - best of luck. Unfortunately, you may not believe this, but I don’t use iTunes. (I also don’t have Spotify - god I’m old). If there is any other way to hear it, let me know.

Do you use YouTube?

Googling for “Returning the Favor” Loren Allred returns this.

By the way, Spotify is free. No reason not to use it.

[WordMan]

@Alley_Dweller

Do you use YouTube?

Googling for “Returning the Favor” Loren Allred returns this.

:smack:

I…am an idiot. Will give this a listen or two. Thank you.

[WordMan]

Ah! Nice! Has a groove-type I tend to think of as an “relentless ocean-wave piano riff” - kinda like the Games of Thrones cello-based theme.

I assume the chorus of the song is where it starts with the line “I never asked you for anything I couldn’t get myself.” When I hear this, I want the music to go much bigger, and her singing to “straighten out” and sell the chorus in a sing-along sort of way. I guess I am saying that the song could be produced in a full-out pop version and would hold up. Cool!

Good luck with it.

[DooWahDiddy]

@Beckdawrek

I really love your song.

Thanks, I appreciate it.

@Alley_Dweller

Do you use YouTube?

Googling for “Returning the Favor” Loren Allred returns this.

By the way, Spotify is free. No reason not to use it.

Obviously iTunes is the most artist-friendly so I prefer that, but yes, the song is on Spotify, YouTube, and CDBaby.

@WordMan

I guess I am saying that the song could be produced in a full-out pop version and would hold up.

Well, the song is in the public now, so you don’t need my permission to post your own version to YouTube.

[WordMan]

@DooWahDiddy

Well, the song is in the public now, so you don’t need my permission to post your own version to YouTube.

Oh my. That would be a crime against humanity, and against your song. In my bands, I am the “character voice” - where it’s less about singing and more about sales. Fred Schneider’s part in Love Shack; Blister in the Sun, etc. Putting your song through that filter would not be a Good Thing