It's a damn shame Prince doesn't own the songs he wrote and played on but do many sucessful musicians actually own their masters?

U2
Madonna (this a rumour...not confirmed!)
David Bowie
Ani DiFranco

Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley

Ray Charles owned his.

LL Cool J's new deal with Def Jam gave him ownership of his masters.

Bon Jovi, John Mellencamp, and Elton John i know for sure, the only thing Elton doesnt own is his first Album from 1968 "Empty Sky" that is still owned by Dick James i believe.

George Clinton own the 4 Warner Bros. Funkadelic masters.

Color Me Badd fought for ownership but someone convinced them their songs were weak so thay gave up the fight.

funkpill said:

I think he owns the westbound masters also

A very good question. I've always wondered that. I think Donna Summer does and prehaps she is the reason the market is so overfolded with no shortage of DS collections.

With music being recorded digitally more often these days, the discussion of owning one's masters is almost all but outdated since when one records digitally there really aren't any physical masters to speak of. That said, it'll be nice because that means that's less that the record company can hold over an artist's head.

You're completely wrong. Masters are masters, whether digital or not. You would usually have a CD/DAT master these days. With a standard recording contract, the record company STILL owns the masters.

smart artist.

I believe the Stones own their masters too. And i think that Billy Joel did finally get them also.

Its funny but most of these artists that own their recordings also seem to be the biggest concert draws too.

Jovi,Elton,U2,Stones,Springsteen,Joel etc...

Also just a side/personal note, Rick Springfield has his masters, he recently worked a deal with BMG to get them. u may joke but everytime a jukebox/Radio or some bar plays Jessies Girl, ring the cash register.
[Edited 10/9/06 12:08pm]

if u don't own the masters the masters own u

funkpill said:

DAMN!
HE MUST BE RICH! All those samples; money, money money!

mikek1 said:

yeah...


Just hope it isn't being wasted on his habit

funkpill said:

Isn't he (and the P-funk projects) one of the most sampled artists, togetther with James Brown?

I don't know if Courtney owns the masters to the Hole material (perhaps Celebrity Skin) but she definately owns the masters to her solo work. And she owns the Nirvana masters too.

Militant said:

Do the other members of Nirvana have a share in it?

MikeMatronik said:

umm how does George Clinton own his masters, but not his publishing

KingKrazy said:

So he doesn't get money when someone does a cover or use part of melody of a song he wrote?

MikeMatronik said:

i think so, he doesn't own his publishing but has his masters, so what good is that

KingKrazy said:

But why is that?

Was he tricked in giving the publishing to someone else
?

MikeMatronik said:

i remember some rapper was getting sued by the publishing company and George Clinton said he has nuthin to do with it since he doesn't own his publishing, so if he doesnt own his publishing

Chicago

stopHATING said:

Yes CHICAGO own all their stuff. the are ways u can tell that artists own their own stuff. First if you see Re-issues and expanded editions/remastering it usually means the label and artist have come to terms on the masters. Almost all of the artists i mentioned have re-issued their stuff, Jovi,Elton,Bruce,Stones,Billy,Chicago.

Another way to tell is when a certain artist that was big in a certain time period and they are not featured on comilations. Take the 80's for example, Jovi isnt part of any 80's metal/hairband compilations. You will never find these artists on compilations and if you do, its rare, but they probably have done their own licensing for it.

lastdecember said:

Okay what you said is bullshit since Livin On a Prayer is on all those stupid 80 comps

and i see that most of yall are naming names, and dont really know who owns there masters i see.

I'm not sure but I think that Chuck D owns the masters to Public Enemy's music.