Making money at music is a lottery. Period. You stand at the right place at the right time, someone goes, "Eh... I don't know, whatever... YOU" and there you go. There's a million people now with a baseline of ability, equipment and (depending on what you're doing) charisma and beyond that its a dice roll. This guy should be happy he feeds his family writing music. If you want to make real money invest in a zipper factory. People will all need zippers for at least the foreseeable future, although maybe diversifying into velcro wouldn't hurt.

 

I think Spitfire has made a great deal of money from musicians being paid a great deal less than Discovery. It would be interesting to have a breakdown of this, though. It all comes across very: exploiter complains of being exploited.

 

love that guy too he's awesome. did they ever realize the piano book project?

 

Ok, so post the figures that prove your assertion.

 

https://www.pianobook.co.uk/

Yes he did, pianobook is an amazing resource, you should totally check it out, theres some wonderful instruments on there.

Its amazing how much bitter and uninformed nonsense thats been posted in this thread

 

Did we expect anything less here though?

Famouslut seems to think anyone with success is evil? All a bit tin foil hat for me, but that's his/her opinion. Although sadly misguided by jealously I feel, as Christians earnings are the only comeback.

Pianobook. LABS. Giveaways every month on both their accounts. Meet ups, free templates... the usual exploitation

 

I think it's Christian who is making the bold assertions, perhaps you should ask him for "proof"? I'm not sure he provides any figures. I'm more interested whether he treats his own employees better or worse than Discovery? (From vaiman's guesswork, it seems worse is the answer.)

 

That's guesswork. Unless you have figures?

And you can ask his employees on various outlets. It's not really that difficult.

 

Well, that's why I said "I think" :D I also think that when you point fingers, three point at you; it's one of the reasons why this rant (and topic =) is so interesting. But you did say that you expected Christian to do the christian thing, and just pay the minimum he could get away with. Again, Christian doesn't provide any hard facts or figures for Discovery.

Spoiler

I know the model is going away from (hated by networks et al) royalties to a flat fee. I'm not sure that I hate this, tbh, but that's another argument. I'd rather have more work (options), even if it's lower paid tbh.

 

No I didn't. I said normal daily rate. You are just making stuff up now. You argument changes every time it's challenged.

Anyway, there's actual musicians in total agreement on the video comments. Funny that isn't it? Why is that you think?
I'll leave Area 51 here, for a more balance discussion :D
Bye

 

Dear God.

Listen, here's a reality check for you. Working composers don't always get to write what they love. It's not necessarily a passion. It's work. I've been writing music for TV and Film my entire life and I can assure you that what my clients want to hear and what I prefer to compose diverge almost entirely most of the time. Sometimes one is commissioned a dream job but most of the time its just work. Hard work.

Some of the ignorance spouted in this thread is simply mind-blowing.

 

+1

 

Ahh yes.

Music is an art form. It is not "divine". As an art form its appeal is purely subjective. As an art form it is inevitably commercialised (see: Mozart). As an at form there will always be those that believe that their particular interpretation is correct, righteous and pure...and everyone that disagrees with them are therefore wrong.

...and then they sometimes grow up.

 

What people seem to forget about this is that it is (AFAIK) planned. Not implemented. Capitalists want to cut costs shocker. Why musicians (with contracts) would agree to this is a mystery, they've got a golden goose!

I've asked Christian to provide details about the difference between the (planned) rate and library rate. Also what M/P royalties Spitfire employees get. If any. Hopefully we'll get some solid answers.

 

At 61, I can tell you it's not all it's cracked up to be.

 

I doubt he'll publicly give numbers, maybe percentages. He does touch slightly on the subject at 6:40. Where he accepted the £1000 advance that later cost him £100,000 in royalties.

 

SA have said many times that the players get MU rates plus royalties on sales.

And we'd still get paid properly.

When I posted the vid, I thought "ah, we're all going to be in agreement on this", as we're all musicians & composers.
I never dreamed that the post would elicit the opposing arguement. But I live & learn.
Thank you for being the voice of reason @vaiman. Sorry I didn't get back here sooner.

 

Not the point.
For instance, the MU doesn't stop kids from under-cutting seasoned musos for live work, or even going out for nothing, does it? And said kids shoot not just themselves in the foot when they don't value themselves. Probably because they decide it's the norm. And then maybe it becomes the norm for them?
This is the point.
What Discovery are doing will not become the norm. At least for those that have integrity and morals.
Which is why it's good that Christian speaks out.

 

Last edited: Dec 28, 2019

No they don't. They will pay for a usage licence. You don't know how royalties work.

 

Oh boy !
Where to begin, no substance or any relevant point made just white-washing my whole argument and grandstanding. Well....then again I guess that's what people call good debating skills these days.
Anyways, no matter how subjective art is, can stand tall on its own, without the need to constantly beg people for their consideration. Artists and people who understand art don't give this kind of perverse reasons to excuse from criticisms.
Any composer worth his/her salt will admit it and call it what it is, Christian and others like him are at best pretentious man-childs and at worst...well let's not go there. If Christian had an ounce of self-awareness he would quit his job and focus on Spitfire because marketing to other man-childs is infinitely more doable than composing a single note that can express the most complex emotion

I joined this community because and not inspite of the dissenting opinions that people have. If you expect any group of individuals to readily agree with you, well my man this is the Internet, you are in the worst place possible and if you unironically think that his rant was "awesome" prepare for hard times.