The issue isn't about crying...
It's about the deregulation of the music business on some 80s Republican shyt where the workers get pennies while the bosses clean up and still cry broke...
Atlantic Records Has Reportedly Called Albums “Mixtapes” to Avoid Fairly Compensating Producers
- Thread starter thernbroom
- Start date
The issue isn't about crying...
It's about the deregulation of the music business on some 80s Republican shyt where the workers get pennies while the bosses clean up and still cry broke...
CapitalforCapital
Banned
Welcome to America.
CapitalforCapital
Banned
Welcome to America.
thernbroom
Superstar
Just to clarify, you tweeted that you and co-producer Snugsworth were asked to split $1000?
Yes, we were told that we had to split the $1000. I asked one of the associates at the label if we were assigned $1000 each and she informed me that we would be splitting it.
Do you regret anything?
I absolutely regret signing a producer declaration—signing over all of my rights to the song as a producer to the label. At the time, I thought it was normal and everyone had to do it. Later I found out that it wasn't necessary. They threw terms at me like "industry standard" and even my then lawyer, Adam Zia, encouraged me to sign it. I later found out he really wasn't looking out for my best interest, he was simply taking advantage of naive producers just like the label was. So, all in all, I absolutely regret signing the producer declaration and working with Adam Zia.
What could you have done differently, if anything?
If I were to do anything different, I would have replayed that sample or not sampled at all because the rights holders took 50% of publishing. The label tried to get us to sign off on us splitting 18% of the remaining 50%, but because I knew I had leverage I told them I wouldn't sign anything until we got 25% of the remaining 50%. I thought that was fair. That pissed off Ferg and the label but I didn't care because I knew we were getting robbed of the advance. Ultimately, we each ended up getting 12.5%.
Did the label initially approach you as if the song would be used for a "commercial mixtape" and then pivot to say it would be for the album?
Yes, they did pivot. Initially, when I gave the beat to Ferg I was under the impression that it would be for a mixtape. They released the record without the permission of Snugsworth or myself and sent us paperwork shortly afterward that they urged us to "sign immediately." Luckily for me, I took a contract law class in college and I knew that I had the leverage because they released the song without my permission. I didn't sign anything until the publishing splits were where I wanted them to be. But when it came to the advance, they told me that because Trap Lord was slated to be a mixtape it had no budget even though they were releasing it as a commercial album.
Yes, we were told that we had to split the $1000. I asked one of the associates at the label if we were assigned $1000 each and she informed me that we would be splitting it.
Do you regret anything?
I absolutely regret signing a producer declaration—signing over all of my rights to the song as a producer to the label. At the time, I thought it was normal and everyone had to do it. Later I found out that it wasn't necessary. They threw terms at me like "industry standard" and even my then lawyer, Adam Zia, encouraged me to sign it. I later found out he really wasn't looking out for my best interest, he was simply taking advantage of naive producers just like the label was. So, all in all, I absolutely regret signing the producer declaration and working with Adam Zia.
What could you have done differently, if anything?
If I were to do anything different, I would have replayed that sample or not sampled at all because the rights holders took 50% of publishing. The label tried to get us to sign off on us splitting 18% of the remaining 50%, but because I knew I had leverage I told them I wouldn't sign anything until we got 25% of the remaining 50%. I thought that was fair. That pissed off Ferg and the label but I didn't care because I knew we were getting robbed of the advance. Ultimately, we each ended up getting 12.5%.
Did the label initially approach you as if the song would be used for a "commercial mixtape" and then pivot to say it would be for the album?
Yes, they did pivot. Initially, when I gave the beat to Ferg I was under the impression that it would be for a mixtape. They released the record without the permission of Snugsworth or myself and sent us paperwork shortly afterward that they urged us to "sign immediately." Luckily for me, I took a contract law class in college and I knew that I had the leverage because they released the song without my permission. I didn't sign anything until the publishing splits were where I wanted them to be. But when it came to the advance, they told me that because Trap Lord was slated to be a mixtape it had no budget even though they were releasing it as a commercial album.
never thought I'd see a random link to Chris Jones in the hip hop portion of the forum.
channelblond
Banned
Every artist is complicity when this happens. The producer getting more means his getting less in terms of royalty
Marlo Barksdale
Really out chea
He's mos def in a 360 and he was signed to Atlantic when Kush & Orange Juice dropped. That's how it "broke the internet." Same way ASAP Rocky was signed before Live Love Asap.
There's more articles about it but here's one from 2010 on major label rappers claiming to be independent.
Hip-Hop’s New Business Model: Major-Label Rappers Stay ‘Independent’
Wiz has been in a 360 deal since 2005, sued his manager & label in 206 and they settled last yr.
Wiz Khalifia’s Lawsuit Challenges ‘360’ Deal With Manager, Record Label
Wiz Khalifa Settles Lawsuit With Former Manager - XXL
99% of these rappers aint just blowing up outta nowhere lol.
Bigblackted4
Superstar
Good shyt mint with the facts
eastside313
Superstar
Wtf does this have to do with nipseyIsn't Nip signed to Atlantic? and he talking about being a boss
Piff Perkins
Veteran
a real shame for that producer of Shabba because it was the the success of Shabba that turned Fergs mixtape into an actual debut album.
there was like 4 fire records he couldn't put on Trap Lord because of that shift.
side note: bizarre that Wiz Kush x OJ and Rocky's Live.Love.A$AP still aren't on any streaming service.
there was like 4 fire records he couldn't put on Trap Lord because of that shift.
side note: bizarre that Wiz Kush x OJ and Rocky's Live.Love.A$AP still aren't on any streaming service.
Marlo Barksdale
Really out chea
That means the paperwork aint right,usually with the producers/samples.
LOL at having Rocky's name on your lips outta nowhere. Their come-ups aren't related at all.
Irv said it best, everyone gets jerked the first go round..the name of the game is to get into position and win from there.
The opportunity is too rare/hard to come by to be complaining about getting $1000 for a song or whatever for a song.
Be happy you got paid at all, now leverage the fact you got a hit under your belt and start your career.
The opportunity is too rare/hard to come by to be complaining about getting $1000 for a song or whatever for a song.
Be happy you got paid at all, now leverage the fact you got a hit under your belt and start your career.