Before rising to become a bonafide Pop superstar Bebe Rexha made a living writing songs for artists she now shares chart space with.
Today, she has urged the music industry to change the way it assigns publishing splits to writers and producers as she feels it is unfair that producers pick up upfront frees as well as royalties…at the expense of lyricists.
Her accurate estimation below…
Here is where the songwriting and producer world is ****ed up. Songwriters get publishing, while producers get a ridiculous fee, points on a record, as well as publishing. Which means they make more then the songwriter! It’s almost 2019 not 1970!!!! Things need to change. Back in the day there was a difference between a producer, session player, writer. Today producers are programers, producers are also writers. The double dipping is unfair.Get your fee. Get your publishing. It’s insane this hasn’t changed. At least split the points between all the actual writers in the room. THATS FAIR. Unless you’re producing records Quincy Jones style don’t ask me for points. This isn’t even about me. I am lucky and grateful to make money doing shows. This is for all the songwriters who make a living off of writing. To me the music and lyrics are equal. And that’s how it should be treated. Every song should be treated differently. It’s very hard to explain.
I’m just tired of songwriters getting treated like we are lucky to be writing songs. No! There would be no complete song without us!! I’m sorry babes I just want the world to be a fair place and sometimes that’s not always the case. I’m not ****in scared to talk about what I believe in. Fight for the things you believe in. Or just live your life on the side lines. A wise man or woman once said…. Haters gonna HATE.
As it stands writers often have to share portions of their publishing splits producers (who are paid for their services) and,in some cases, artists who may or may not have contributed to their lyrics.
Every song should be treated differently. It’s very hard to explain.
I’m just tired of songwriters getting treated like we are lucky to be writing songs. No! There would be no complete song without us!!— Bebe Rexha (@BebeRexha) December 12, 2018
Do you agree with her?
Hmm ok ??…
I agree with her
Grammy nom already went to her head ???
Beyonce is shaking IN HER BOOTS. She contributes one word and she’s a SONGWRITER???? YOU CAN’T SPEAK IN FULL SENTENCES BUT EXPECT US TO BELIEVE YOU WRITE SONGS??????
Beyoncé was the first to come to mind as well because people have admitted she changes 1 word or doesn’t even write the song and still gets full credit because “She’s Beyoncé” if you want real songwriters to receive full credit, quit excusing artists based off their name alone!
I’m not shocked TGJ didn’t point that out either!
If you notice I am here only has Diane Warren , she knows who she can get credit from and who she can’t .
Well these writers give it up willingly for the chance to get the exposure so…I don’t agree with it but I can’t knock her hustle.
Yall know Diane warren dont play about her writing bey wasnt getting that. As well as baby face is the same way
I came here for this comment. ?
@China – I LOVE your comment.
#Spot On
I see no lies tbh
Absolutely AGREE with her. As a songwriter myself I’ve been there. Producers as songwriters to write to their track. Not only do the songwriters write the lyrics and come up with the catchy melody, BUT they are usually the arrangers or harmonies, etc. What is a damn song without the lyrics and melody? S*** should be 50/50 PERIOD! Otherwise buy instrumentals.
Well said BeBe. I would really like to hear someone argue why this isn’t fair. Producers beats mean nothing without the song to tell the story.
Producers ASK songwriters to make songs to their tracks. Every heard of a dope ass song where the track was once demoed as a different song HORRIBLY? Track didn’t make a difference. the SONG as a whole did!
She’s certainly right.
I agree with her for the most part. But honestly song writers and producers are not equal. I do think producers are more vital. That’s just my opinion but writer def should get more credit and money for what they do.
It depends what they’re actually doing. A ‘producer’ is the person who decides the creative and technical direction of the finished product with the product geared to their specifications. This can be anyone from the artist, to the songwriter to the manage or even an A&R who neither sings nor makes music but who just has great taste and an ear for what’s hot. Producer is a separate job to songwriter though, however it is really for everyone involved to agree. That said, if you contribute neither lyric or melody then you shouldn’t get ‘songwriter’ credit unless it is gifted to you (…like it is with Beyoncé).
I wholeheartedly agree.
Reading your articles reminds me how much of a bad writer i’m not, lol! Yall are horrible lol!