Ableton Forum

This is more of a business question but I think most people here will know the answer, since we are all producers.

If I'm creating and producing tracks, pretty much the instrumental and someone creates the topline or melody for the song, am I too considered a songwriter as far as the copyright goes?

How does the copyright office look at producers who create/compose the music or beat?

Or is the the topline writer considered the songwriter?

Please respond.....

Hang on, mate - I actually studied this exact thing last fall. Let me go check my notes!

Okay mate - I actually wrote an article about this exact thing!

I guess it depends on the definition of copyright, Clint. When it comes to publishing rights, yeah - your totally entitled to a split. Typically topline person gets 50% and everything else (you) gets 50%.

Does that help, mate? You just got to be clear upfront who does what and what any kind of split is. The copyright would be jointly owned by you and the topline composer.