Very interesting article...I found it fascinating. I won't post the whole thing here, but check out the link for all the text. Here's a snippet.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2011/06/30/137530847/how-much-does-it-cost-to-make-a-hit-song?sc=fb&cc=fp

The writing camp for Rihanna's album "had to cost at least 200 grand," Daniels says. "It was at least forty guys out there. I was shocked at how much money they were spending! But, guess what? They got the whole album out of that one camp."

A writing camp is like a reality show, where top chefs who have never met are forced to cook together. At the end, Rihanna shows up like the celebrity judge and picks her favorites.

Her new album has 11 songs on it. So figure that the writing camp cost about $18,000 per song.

The songwriter and the producer each got a fee for their services. Rock City got $15,000 for Man Down, and the producer got around $20,000, according to Daniels.

That's about $53,000.00 spent on the song so far— before Rihanna even steps into the studio with her vocal producer.

The vocal producer's job is to make sure Rihanna sings the song right.

Efan said:

Very interesting article...I found it fascinating. I won't post the whole thing here, but check out the link for all the text. Here's a snippet.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2011/06/30/137530847/how-much-does-it-cost-to-make-a-hit-song?sc=fb&cc=fp

The writing camp for Rihanna's album "had to cost at least 200 grand," Daniels says. "It was at least forty guys out there. I was shocked at how much money they were spending! But, guess what? They got the whole album out of that one camp."

A writing camp is like a reality show, where top chefs who have never met are forced to cook together. At the end, Rihanna shows up like the celebrity judge and picks her favorites.

Her new album has 11 songs on it. So figure that the writing camp cost about $18,000 per song.

The songwriter and the producer each got a fee for their services. Rock City got $15,000 for Man Down, and the producer got around $20,000, according to Daniels.

That's about $53,000.00 spent on the song so far— before Rihanna even steps into the studio with her vocal producer.

The vocal producer's job is to make sure Rihanna sings the song right.

Good god!!!!!

Im ready to sing my soong haaaay!!!

[img:$uid]http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lfy6otbQZG1qfp34ko1_500.gif[/img:$uid]

[Edited 6/30/11 14:47pm]

I want to go to one of those camps. I've got TONS of words in search of a melody.

I wish I could time machine myself back to the 60s.

abigail05 said:

I wish I could time machine myself back to the 60s.

Here ya go.

So the writer only gets a fee, or will the writer get more money when the song is selling?

15.000 is a lot of money, but if it's for a song like "S&M" it's not really much.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

abigail05 said:

I wish I could time machine myself back to the 60s.

Here ya go.

Oh man, why wouldn't people want that today?

The same as it costs to make a song that isn't a hit.

Of course, none of this means a writer is forfeiting royalities due him from publishing.

robertlove said:

So the writer only gets a fee, or will the writer get more money when the song is selling?

I believe you get a portion from the songs sales as well as everytime the song is played on the radio or liscensed for movies, commercials etc.

Those comments for that article are fucking terrible. This is one of the best ones:

I don't expect to get a lot of thumbs up with this on an NPR board, but
Rihanna is better and more honest than most top selling indie artists (an oxymoron). And it's amusing how many 'experts' here on music buy the indie schtick hook line and sinker. They believe the lies in the bio, the 'story' behind the album, the sadness behind the artist. "Yes, I recorded it while stuck in a hut, in the middle of nowhere, with just a cheap microphone, an old beat-up guitar, and my depression and inspiration. Never mind that I just graduated from an ivy league school, drive an SUV, and shop for Prada. You're not suppose to focus on that - focus on how I write scab pealing lyrics, don't use auto-tune, and record everything in one take (wink) - because that's what makes an honest song. Please also ignore the amount of money my indie label just spent to publicize my indie masterpiece to Pitchfork and other hipster media outlets. Because everyone knows, I'm not doing this for the money."

Not that he's an expert either, but David Byrne likes Rihanna. Google it.

Unholyalliance said:

Those comments for that article are fucking terrible. This is one of the best ones:

I don't expect to get a lot of thumbs up with this on an NPR board, but
Rihanna is better and more honest than most top selling indie artists (an oxymoron). And it's amusing how many 'experts' here on music buy the indie schtick hook line and sinker. They believe the lies in the bio, the 'story' behind the album, the sadness behind the artist. "Yes, I recorded it while stuck in a hut, in the middle of nowhere, with just a cheap microphone, an old beat-up guitar, and my depression and inspiration. Never mind that I just graduated from an ivy league school, drive an SUV, and shop for Prada. You're not suppose to focus on that - focus on how I write scab pealing lyrics, don't use auto-tune, and record everything in one take (wink) - because that's what makes an honest song. Please also ignore the amount of money my indie label just spent to publicize my indie masterpiece to Pitchfork and other hipster media outlets. Because everyone knows, I'm not doing this for the money."

Not that he's an expert either, but David Byrne likes Rihanna. Google it.

Sounds like Bon Iver stuff

... Who makes very good music anyway!

Ask Dr. Dre or Timbaland!!!!!!

LightOfArt said:

robertlove said:

So the writer only gets a fee, or will the writer get more money when the song is selling?

I believe you get a portion from the songs sales as well as everytime the song is played on the radio or liscensed for movies, commercials etc.

Not if they're a songwriter for hire. They don't get royalties, only a salary or fee for songs written.

Efan said:

Very interesting article...I found it fascinating. I won't post the whole thing here, but check out the link for all the text. Here's a snippet.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2011/06/30/137530847/how-much-does-it-cost-to-make-a-hit-song?sc=fb&cc=fp

The writing camp for Rihanna's album "had to cost at least 200 grand," Daniels says. "It was at least forty guys out there. I was shocked at how much money they were spending! But, guess what? They got the whole album out of that one camp."

A writing camp is like a reality show, where top chefs who have never met are forced to cook together. At the end, Rihanna shows up like the celebrity judge and picks her favorites.

Her new album has 11 songs on it. So figure that the writing camp cost about $18,000 per song.

The songwriter and the producer each got a fee for their services. Rock City got $15,000 for Man Down, and the producer got around $20,000, according to Daniels.

That's about $53,000.00 spent on the song so far— before Rihanna even steps into the studio with her vocal producer.

The vocal producer's job is to make sure Rihanna sings the song right.

this is why i laugh when people toss around the word FLOP like they have a clue on what a label looks at, numbers dont matter to them, the only number they care about is at the bottom line, are we making money or not, granted Rihanna is not a flop but the LABEL isnt making cash on the records, its making it on her endorsements and her tours and merchandising, if she didnt have that she'd be screwed. Its like when people hear about a movie's gross they have know clue what they are takling about when they say if a film is a HIT or not. The Rule of hollywood is that a film has to double its costs to BREAK EVEN, and when i say costs thats not just the price to make the movie but also the fee for actors, which is why now TV shows use no-talent hacks, because they dont have to pay them anything or sign them to anything. its basically the same thing with music

it costs a keyboard, a sequencer, an 8 track, a virtual mastering suite, and a microphone.

much more than that is overkill.

thisisit said:

it costs a keyboard, a sequencer, an 8 track, a virtual mastering suite, and a microphone.

much more than that is overkill.

You forgot that you have to rent some fancy stuff and pay some models for the video.

[Edited 7/4/11 19:15pm]

Ask someone who actually can make music on their own and they'll tell you all need is $1.25 for a composition notebook and a pen. Real musicians don't need teams of 30 people to create for them. It's a natural gift and it free for those who are open to it.

HonestMan13 said:

Ask someone who actually can make music on their own and they'll tell you all need is $1.25 for a composition notebook and a pen. Real musicians don't need teams of 30 people to create for them. It's a natural gift and it free for those who are open to it.

How about the average orchestra? They don't usually create. They play music written by guys who have been dead for hundreds of years.

MickyDolenz said:

HonestMan13 said:

Ask someone who actually can make music on their own and they'll tell you all need is $1.25 for a composition notebook and a pen. Real musicians don't need teams of 30 people to create for them. It's a natural gift and it free for those who are open to it.

How about the average orchestra? They don't usually create. They play music written by guys who have been dead for hundreds of years.

As you said yourself orchestras don't usually create they play other peoples music. The original composer probably didn't need Diddy and the Hit Squad to compose a symphony. He probably sat alone and worked on it for a period of time. A result of their natural gift.

HonestMan13 said:

MickyDolenz said:

How about the average orchestra? They don't usually create. They play music written by guys who have been dead for hundreds of years.

As you said yourself orchestras don't usually create they play other peoples music. The original composer probably didn't need Diddy and the Hit Squad to compose a symphony. He probably sat alone and worked on it for a period of time. A result of their natural gift.

But some people claim that someone who plays an instrument is a "real musician". An orchestra contains instrumentalists. Are you saying they're not really musicians because they don't write songs? Many people write songs and don't play an instrument.

MickyDolenz said:

thisisit said:

it costs a keyboard, a sequencer, an 8 track, a virtual mastering suite, and a microphone.

much more than that is overkill.

You forgot that you have to rent some fancy stuff and pay some models for the video.

lol.