Another artist notable for sending follow-up letters is Rodney Griffin. He always sends an encouraging letter. These people are busy and it speaks of their character that they are considerate enough to do this.
I hope other groups are paying attention. Treat your writers well. They are sending you the work of their hearts God has inspired them to create. We are called as Christians to encourage each other. Please don't neglect this opportunity to show the Lord's love.
The next issue in the treatment of gospel songwriters by artists I would like to address is the theft of songs. To my knowledge, this has never personally happened to me but I have been made aware of it a couple of times. I once corresponded through e-mail with a songwriter who wrote to me that “...somebody up your way stole one of my songs.” They had recorded it without notifying him or paying for the right to do so. It just so happened I know the people to whom he was referring. I checked out their website and, sure enough, on one of their recordings I saw his song. I know the lifestyle these people lead—wintering in warm, sunny areas. They do not need to be stealing songs.
While I was once in the middle of pitching songs to a group at the NQC, a well-known gospel songwriter came up to the booth, picked up a CD and then started talking to the man with whom I was speaking. She said so and so “...told me one of my songs is on this CD and I wasn't paid for it. Look. There it is.” The embarrassed man sputtered that she would have to talk to the person who owned the group.
Writers' royalties are not exorbitant. I don't understand why artists think they don't have to behave in ways honoring to the Lord in this issue. I have even heard people say if you change a word or two, or tweak the music; it is OK to use a song without paying royalties. On this issue, I like to use the following analogy. You see sitting in a yard a red wagon a man has made for his son. Without permission, you decide to take it home for your son and when you get it home, you paint it black. You haven’t made the wagon. You don’t own it. You’ve only painted it black. It is a stolen wagon you are offering to your son. How can we expect the Lord to bless and honor what we steal?
I'm an up-front kind of gal. I prefer artists deal with me honestly. I've had artists offer to co-write with me, when they had no intention of doing so. I've had them tell me they thought I was “wonderfully talented and gifted by the Lord” when I knew they had never heard my work (remember I keep scrupulous records). Be honest with us. Tell us if you only record songs by the top writers, or public domain songs, or if your tenor writes everything you sing. I've had groups string me along for years on songs they promised to record and never did, saying, “Don't give up on us!” Christians are to be people of their word. Follow through or, if for some reason you can't, be honest with us.
We are all aware those gospel songwriters at the core of the business account for the majority of new songs recorded and public domain and re-releases make up a good deal of the rest. I have one writer friend who reminds me, “Music is music—Christian or secular—it's all about money in the end.” But gospel artists please remember Who you represent and handle gospel songwriters with Christian care. In the face of this, I refuse to become bitter or jaded. I write because I am called of the Lord to do so. What I do for and through Him, may be used only to bless my small sphere of influence or it may be picked up by a top tier artist who will take it global. Either way, I'm happy because I am being faithful to do what I am called to do.
|
