Songwriting - Collaboration Or Aberration - Part 1

Suddenly, you've just invented a device that will change the world as we know it! That's right. You've gone and done it now. Further, only you know what it is to be called, what it looks like, and what it feels like. You are absolutely sure that your invention is worth millions and millions of dollars. In reality, it might actually be worth millions.

Think for a moment. If you really did invent something like this, would you immediately call your friends and worse yet, other inventors, and invite them over to show off your world changing invention? Of course you wouldn't. However, it is surprising that many songwriters break this golden rule due to their raw excitement, the need for immediate gratification, and peer recognition.

Confidentiality (The Golden Rule) is one of the most important elements one needs to understand and employ when engaged in the songwriting process (from beginning to end). The eventual delivery of your song to the public must present a powerful impact to the listener. Impact is everything! It's difficult to maintain strict confidentiality because eventually, assuming that you really did invent the wheel, there will be professional producers, engineers, musicians, copyists, manufacturers and many other types of personnel surrounding you and listening to your song(s). Sooner or later we must rely on the ethics of others. This is the business of music.

Does Perfect exist? No! We all know that. However, one can certainly associate with the most ethical professionals available. Surround yourself with honest people. After all, songwriting is a very serious business. Accept nothing less than ethical and professional conduct from every individual involved with your songwriting projects. Hold everyone to the highest degree and standard of care when it comes to songwriting and collaboration. As you will discover in future articles, collaborating with an inexperienced songwriter is not recommended.

A lack of knowledge, regarding this aspect of the music business, could have tragic financial and creative ownership results. Confidentiality must be maintained when delivering a product to the public. Case-in-point; the recent IPHONE.

Most of us didn't know the IPHONE existed until the inventors held a news conference. Everyone, from the board room to engineering and development maintained the highest degree of confidentiality. Why? Because everyone involved with the product knew that they had, per se, invented the wheel. The top professionals were at the controls here. From invention all the way to advertising and ultimately, release, these individuals employed the highest degree of personal ethics. This is just an educated guess for all to ponder. I'm betting that even most family members of the inventors didn't know about this revolutionary device until release. Now, that's professionalism.

Songwriting demands the same high degree of professionalism, ethics, and confidentiality. When involved in issues such as intellectual property, the stakes become very, very high. Especially if one collaborates with another, or others, throughout the songwriting process.

Some might actually think that they don't need to know much about the music business, or the laws surrounding songwriting, because their song is so good that a big major record company will take care of them. Good luck to all who truly believe in that philosophy. For some, experience will always be the best teacher.

Confidentiality is the Golden Rule pertaining to the business of songwriting. Protect your product. Treat every composition as a potential hit song. Learn the business and legal aspects of songwriting. The truth be known, just one hit song can retire everyone involved. The revenue earned from royalties, sales, and distribution alone is astronomical. What a great incentive for all to learn the business of songwriting.

Throughout the next few articles of this series, many issues regarding songwriting and the business of songwriting will be examined and discussed. Until then, as always, practice, practice, practice.

2008 Michael E. Fletcher. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Michael E. Fletcher
Author/Composer/Guitarist/Instructor

Ultra Guitar Method

Music takes center stage on the heels of the official registration opening for the Nike+ Human Race, the world’s biggest one-day running event taking place on August 31, 2008.  The race brings together the power of sport and music to inspire and connect runners from every corner of the planet.  Participants in this unprecedented event will experience an exclusive music performance by some of today’s top artists in each of the 25 designated race cities.

In Los Angeles, nine-time Grammy Award winning artist Kanye West will headline the run’s post race concert for the grand finale of the 25-city Nike+ Human Race.  Runners will take to the streets passing the city’s most famous landmarks before ending at the LA Coliseum to see West take the stage.  
“I’m hitting the stage in Los Angeles for the Nike+ Human Race, Nike's dopest 10k run ever. This race is bringing together hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world to run and listen to some great music while serving a higher cause, and I’m excited to perform in L.A. as part of the grand finale.”
West’s performance will bring to a close, an unprecedented day of races and activities around the globe starting in Taipei, ending in LA and including cities across Europe, Asia and North and South America. 

In London, runners will be treated to an exclusive performance by world-renowned American DJ, songwriter, musician and singer Moby in the city’s famed Wembley Stadium.  Other all-star artists confirmed to play at the Nike+ Human Race include chart-topping rock band All-American Rejects in NY; hometown favorite Fall Out Boy in Chicago; R&B songstress Kelly Rowland in Paris; dance-electro-pop duo The Pinker Tones in Madrid, Turkish pop sensation Kenan Dogulu in Istanbul; the Fantastic Four in Munich; Beijing-based singing duo Yu Quan in Shanghai and American rock band Boys Like Girls in Singapore.  

Beyond running and music, the Nike+ Human Race is also an opportunity to give back. Participants will be able to run for a worthy cause and support the three official Nike+ Human Race charitable partners: the Lance Armstrong Foundation – uniting people in the fight against cancer; WWF - the global conservation organization addressing the causes and impacts of climate change; and the UN refugee agency's ninemillion.org campaign – bringing sport and education to refugee youth.  Together, Nike and runners will raise funds to donate at least USD $3 million to the Nike+ Human Race charities.  Money will be raised via givebacks from registration fees, a percentage of Nike+ Human Race t-shirt sales and a donation of USD $1 million from Nike.
The Nike+ Human Race will also feature an online pledge tool so individual runners can donate additional funds to the cause of their choice and invite friends and family to contribute on their behalf.

“As a committed runner and a cancer survivor, I’m proud to be participating in the Nike+ Human Race,” Lance Armstrong said. “The race offers the best of both worlds by bringing together a global community to run together and support worthy causes like the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the UN refugee agency’s ninemillion.org and WWF in our combined efforts to have a positive impact on the world.

Other Nike athletes will also be joining the movement to run with the world and for a cause.  Like Lance Armstrong, they will serve as honorary athlete ambassadors for the charities and join in Human Race activities.  Six-time marathon winner and current NY Marathon Champion, Paula Radcliffe and middle distance runner Kara Goucher will be running to support WWF, while marathoner Meb Keflezighi will be representing ninemillion.org.

Nikeplus.com will be the official destination for the Nike+ Human Race and for all pre-race training needs. Here, runners can create a personal profile page or stay motivated by sampling and downloading the latest in Nike+ Sport Music offerings. Sport Music offers runners the best in original Training Run and Coaching Mixes designed specifically for treadmill and road runs.  Beginning June 15, runners will also be able to visit Race City pages covering local race info and news, Training pages for information and links to in-city training runs, events with official race partners including 24Hour Fitness and Starbucks and Nike+ Coach training.  Gear pages covering the latest in Nike performance training gear and Nike+ product will also be offered.

About Nike+ Human Race
On 08.31.08, Nike hosts a run like no other before with the Nike+ Human Race - the World’s Largest One Day Running Event.  Nike’s first global race will take place over the course of one day, with a goal of one million runners, across 25 cities and featuring 25 top musical acts.  The 10k event celebrates runners and their sport, offering participants across the globe the chance to run and compete together in an unprecedented race experience.  Spanning multiple continents, Nike+ Human Race cities will include LA, New York, London, Madrid, Paris, Istanbul, Melbourne, Shanghai, São Paulo and Vancouver among others.  Following races in each city, participants will be treated to an exclusive music concert featuring one of today’s top artists.  Participants will be able to run for a cause as a portion of funds raised will be donated to three Nike+ Human Race beneficiaries: WWF, the global conservation organization, Lance Armstrong Foundation and UN refugee agency's ninemillion.org campaign.  The race will be open to anyone, anywhere. Runners outside of the 25 race day cities can join by logging into nikeplus.com.  With the help of Nike+ and the Nike+ SportBand, every city and every road can become a race-day course.  For more information, visit nikeplus.com.