4 Page Letter
“Yo, turn my music up…Up some more, up some more..Up a little bit more”
Wait.. wait.. wait.. hold up?? How did Aaliyah want “her music” turned up if it wasn’t even her music? Now before anybody tries to jump down my throat, let me give a disclaimer. She was a wonderful singer, and had great music; but for the purpose of this blog…she had some ghost writers — for 4 Page Letter. Wanna know who they were? Of course you do, that’s why you’re still reading; but the authors were Missy Elliot and Timbaland.
So what exactly is a Ghostwriter ?
Ghost writers are writers that get paid but take no credit for their own work. The author, or in this case the vocalist/singer, is hiring the ghost writer to produce the song; and then they get all the credit for it. In the music industry, Ghostwriters are often used to write songs, lyrics, and instrumental pieces.
A lot of artists have made songs for other singers, so they can make it a hit. The writer lets their song become a hit from another artist, with the public not even knowing who the true artist is. They basically are just selling their talent to make someone else become successful for the hit song.
Cha Ching! Cha Ching!
Ghostwriters are compensated for their talent, expertise, acclaim, and the kind of work they are entrusted with writing. Typically a flat fee, per page or a part of the royalty money the work earns, is paid to them. The pay may be 10 cents or lower a term, if a term, and up to $4 a word or more.
To write a song for an upcoming or elite artist usually costs in the thousands to do so. The writer may have a task that can require the development of versus, choruses, and sometimes full songs. To write a song, the ghost writer must credibly incorporate their clients voice.
Ghost writers typical range is $10,000 and $20,000. Big labeled companies or projects can give out more than 20,000. Usually when dealing with rappers and popular artist they pay have a $50,000 or more fee for each verse that they have to write. Experienced ghostwriters making more than $100,000 is not abnormal, there are some ghostwriters who charge 250,000 per song on a regular basis. Clearly, I need to look into this ghostwriting business for a career because that sounds like music to my ears!
In the past, during the 70’s and 80’s a lot of ghost writers were not given royalties and still to this day the same issues still occur. However, the unfortunate thing is the various times where writers, who were promised credits at the time the song was released, ended up not having their names on the label. There have also been instances where songs, without proper reimbursement to the ghostwriter, have been published.
Ghostwriting is definitely a money making business and then sometimes the royalty money can be added in as a bonus. I would personally say you really need to choose wisely on who you get to write your songs, or who you will be singing the song for; because it seems like it’s some drama that goes down in the music industry — with how much money, and how the person will be credited for it.
My next post will be something different so I will surprise you when the day comes for a new post which will be next week haha. But as always, come join me next week for more of yesterday’s hits and today’s favorites.
