Band profits

[tomsawyerdeath]

So how do you divide your band profits in a metal band? is it strictly supposed to be equal between all members. what about bands like death, hypocrisy, necrophagist etc. where one member is the sole songwriter, lead vocalist, lead guitarist and at times producer, mixing engineer, lyricist and all that at the same time?

[Fraggy]

should be equal. it is in my band at least.

[Motleyguy]

The only person in the band who really makes any money until you sell Katrillions of records is the singer/songwriter. And they do so through publishing. If you're talking about profits from gigging locally or whatever. Put it in a band fund to pay for PA or recording or touring, whatever.

[Seafroggys]

yeah, as Motley says.

My model is that for gigs, the band splits it. For albums, the band should split it. However, the songwriters do, and should, get their own royalties for their work from ASCAP/BMI/etc.

[Iscariot]

All money from gigs should go in a joint band fund. It doesn't matter who wrote the material, you all took a part in playing the song and playing the show. When you're an unknown, amateur musician, you simply can't afford to have a big head about your work. You split things evenly and keep good relations with your band, unless you like being out in the cold without a band.

[tomsawyerdeath]

but if a guy is handling two duties at the same time for instance lead vocals and lead guitars then shouldnt he get a larger share from the profit made from gigging?

[Fraggy]

no... if someone suggested that i'd beat their arse.
a band is a group of musicians working together, and therefor you shouldn't have people with higher payouts and the like.
5 people play a show, 5 people get equal profit.

[Seafroggys]

but if a guy is handling two duties at the same time for instance lead vocals and lead guitars then shouldnt he get a larger share from the profit made from gigging?

Wow.....that's just a nightmare waiting to happen.

[Motleyguy]

but if a guy is handling two duties at the same time for instance lead vocals and lead guitars then shouldnt he get a larger share from the profit made from gigging?

I don't think any single member of the band should make any profit. Make a band fund, or bank account or whatever, and put all the money you get from gigging in there.

If you ever get signed, things will change immensely. You're band will probably get a huge advance from the record company. Then any profits made from CD sales and touring will be used to recoup (pay off) your giant debt to the record label. If you're lucky they might let you keep the profits from merch sales, but they're even taking that now. The only person that makes any money before you're huge superstars is the singer/songwriter, and the rest of you end up making about $4000 a year (if you're mildly successful).

Honestly, getting signed is a joke. After reading the books I've read on the industry, I don't know if I'd even want to be signed.

[uwpro]

In my experience a band fund is a bad idea, someone has to look after it and he/she might use some of it and "put the money back when they've got it" however he/she will forget.
We used to split the money evenly and they would look after their share. they could piss it away if they wanted it but would then have to pay out of their own pocket when the cash was needed.

having gone solo i don't have this problem anymore :D

[kidthatplaysguitar91]

In my experience a band fund is a bad idea, someone has to look after it and he/she might use some of it and "put the money back when they've got it" however he/she will forget.
We used to split the money evenly and they would look after their share. they could piss it away if they wanted it but would then have to pay out of their own pocket when the cash was needed.

having gone solo i don't have this problem anymore :D

Or one person looks after it, but everyone knows the total.

[kidthatplaysguitar91]

but if a guy is handling two duties at the same time for instance lead vocals and lead guitars then shouldnt he get a larger share from the profit made from gigging?

Shows is a definite no for that. Everyones playing what they picked as an instrument. The only way one person gets more money is....using a famous band example; Mike Portnoy from Dream Theater does all the studio footage, he produces their albums too. He should get more money because of that.

But pretty much, dont worry about money till your actually touring and making a decent amount of it.

[Motleyguy]

Shows is a definite no for that. Everyones playing what they picked as an instrument. The only way one person gets more money is....using a famous band example; Mike Portnoy from Dream Theater does all the studio footage, he produces their albums too. He should get more money because of that.

But pretty much, dont worry about money till your actually touring and making a decent amount of it.

So by that logic, don't worry about money until you have a gold or platinum record (depending what country you're in). As that will be about when you might start to see some money. I believe in the average signed band (with one, or even two moderately successful albums under their belt) each musician makes about $5000/year from their record sales/tours/merch sales/etc.

[kidthatplaysguitar91]

So by that logic, don't worry about money until you have a gold or platinum record (depending what country you're in). As that will be about when you might start to see some money. I believe in the average signed band (with one, or even two moderately successful albums under their belt) each musician makes about $5000/year from their record sales/tours/merch sales/etc.

Well if your as big as RHCP or Nickelback and all those huge bands your making more than that. Also i'm pretty sure when you get signed to a major label they pay you a decently big amount of money and your signed for a few albums, then your next label will probally offer you alot if you did successful.

Also bands like Dispatch who got to keep all the money from their albums because they had no label probally made a decent amount of money.

Money shouldnt be the first thing on everyones mind though.

[adamon]

I believe that money should be divided equally between all members of the band. The only money we save is in a joint account for strictly travel and touring costs. the worst thing to do is to buy equipment with money saved in a joint account, especially something like a PA system, because if the band breaks up or something else happens, there will be a huge problem.

[Motleyguy]

Well if your as big as RHCP or Nickelback and all those huge bands your making more than that. Also i'm pretty sure when you get signed to a major label they pay you a decently big amount of money and your signed for a few albums, then your next label will probally offer you alot if you did successful.

Also bands like Dispatch who got to keep all the money from their albums because they had no label probally made a decent amount of money.

Money shouldnt be the first thing on everyones mind though.

True, if you are as big as those bands are now, you will make a decent amount of money. And you do get paid advances to record your albums. But that's exactly what the majority of them are spent on, recording the album. I was just stating a simple fact about the music industry. Until you reach the level of "Super Stardom" (or whatever you wanna call it). You aren't gonna be walking away with much. Of course, this should not prevent you from trying/releasing and playing the best music you can. We need to get all of the garbage, talentless bubblegum pop out of the music industry.

[Aus_rock_god]

So how do you divide your band profits in a metal band? is it strictly supposed to be equal between all members. what about bands like death, hypocrisy, necrophagist etc. where one member is the sole songwriter, lead vocalist, lead guitarist and at times producer, mixing engineer, lyricist and all that at the same time?

Generic pay arrangement for a band:

Roylties =

Mixer: 10%

Producer: 15%

BAND: 75%


Gross profit =

Manager: 15%

BAND: 85%


All other jobs (ie: roadies, mixers, technicians ect) are generally paid an hourly rate.

Because a band is seen as a buisiness partnership, band profits are generally divided equally amongst the band, but that really depends on how your band is seen as a buisiness ie:

PARTNERSHIP (all members divided equally)

or

PRORIRITRY (songwriter gets the bulk of the profit)