A Question from Michael in Brooklyn:

Mr. Doe,

I stopped in to ask a familiar question. I was in a contract agreement
with a manager and he said he didn't want to be my manager because
we had an argument over him canceling a show because he didn't trust
the producer's ear (mixing). The manager didn't come to the
studio for a month and didn't hear the music we recorded. See the
manager did hear the music before he cancelled the show. But now
he's not my manager and all the music I recorded is on his computer.
The producer made the majority of the beats, does he only get the
producers fee of 2%? He didn't write but one verse on one song. Does
he get publishing or writer's rights besides that one song?

Peace,

Michael

What Would John Doe Do?

Hey Michael,

Give all the songs new titles & re-record them w/ someone that you trust
(maybe leave out the one w/ the verse written by the "producer"). Never
sign manager agreements before you actually have something to manage.
Those "managers" are just trying to take advantage of you & yr art. In
this ridiculously litigious society people need to keep their music on
their own hard drives, a very sad but true situation.
onwards & upwards
thanks for writing,
Jd

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