Welcome to our weekly article on Music Rights Business. In this edition, we will focus on understanding that music is a business and a career.
I would like to address parents who have children with musical talent—please support them and encourage them to learn beyond just performing. Talent alone is not enough; young artists must educate themselves about their rights and the music business. When your music is played, you need to be paid—and through these articles, we will explore how that works.
Understanding Key Music Roles
To start, let’s learn about three essential titles in the music industry:
- Artist – An artist is a performer, the individual who goes on stage or into a studio to showcase their talent. Often, this person has a special name, known as their artist name.
- Composer – This is the person who creates the music, often referred to as a beat maker or producer. They are responsible for crafting the instrumental elements of a song.
- Author – The author writes the lyrics of the song, shaping the message and emotions conveyed through the music.
All three roles are crucial, and sometimes, one person can play multiple roles. However, to fully understand the business, it’s important to separate these roles. This distinction will make it easier to comprehend agreements and contracts.
Understanding Music Agreements
- If you are signed as an artist, you will receive an Artist Agreement.
- If you are a songwriter (composer/author), you will get a Publishing Agreement. We will discuss publishing in more detail in future articles.
Encouraging Musical Growth
Parents, as you support your children in their music careers, it is also important for them to learn to play at least one instrument. This skill ensures that when they are no longer writing hit songs, they can still perform live and sustain their careers.
For more questions on music rights, feel free to reach out to Sakhele Mzalazala via email at musicrights@pondolandtimes.co.za or WhatsApp at 084 438 4487.
Stay tuned for more insights in our next edition!
