If you read last week’s article, you’ll remember we touched on the roles of Artist, Composer, and Author in a song. Today, we’ll continue by breaking down two often misunderstood but important roles in the music creation process: the Arranger and the Producer.
What is an Arranger in Music?
An Arranger is someone who adapts, reworks, or remixes an existing song. This often happens when a piece is reinterpreted—for example, turning an existing song, a traditional folk song into a reggae version. In copyright law, arrangers do not own the original composition unless they also created the melody (Composer) or wrote the lyrics (Author) they will still notify their contribution as additional lyrics or music but still remain arrangers on that song.
So, if you’ve arranged a public domain song or added your flavor to a traditional tune, you are not the Composer—you are the Arranger. If you’ve added new lyrics to a known song, you can note it like this: “Additional lyrics by Your Name when notifying the work at a Collective Management Organisation (CMO) such as SAMRO or CAPASSO.
Who is the Producer?
Now, let’s talk about a title many love to use — Producer.
It sounds prestigious, and it is but let’s understand it correctly. A Producer in music is a Director. They oversee the entire recording process. Their job is to:
- Organize and book studio sessions
- Gather the necessary team (artists, composers, instrumentalists)
- Guide the creative direction of the song
- Make sure the final product sounds high-quality
Back in the day, producers were hired with actual budgets to manage music projects from start to finish. Nowadays, especially with the rise of home/backroom studios, these roles are often blurred. Everyone calls themselves a “producer,” leading to confusion and sometimes conflict over who did what.
If you make beats, you are a Composer — so call yourself that. This way, when you notify your works at a CMO like SAMRO or CAPASSO, you’re properly credited. Most CMOs do not register “Producer” roles — they register Composer and Author for royalty distribution purposes.
However, for Needletime Royalties (related to the use of the actual recording), a Producer credit can exist — but that’s a separate income stream.
Understanding the correct terms isn’t just about sounding professional — it’s about protecting your music and getting paid. Mislabeling your role in a song can lead to missed royalties and legal confusion later.
So What you need to do.
- Know your role in the song: Are you a Composer, Author, Arranger, or just the Performer?
- Notify your works accurately with your CMO.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice when filling out forms or registering songs.
Pondoland Times is here to educate you and help you earn from your music!
For more info, advice, or guidance on music rights and royalties, feel free to contact us.
Let’s protect our music. Let’s build a music industry that pays its creators properly.
Till next week “peace” Mzalazala
