Why would you want to limit your exposure? If you're that talented you don't NEED Ferry or AVB to make it; you are already to that level.

quote:

Originally posted by mfitterer1 Why would you want to limit your exposure? If you're that talented you don't NEED Ferry or AVB to make it; you are already to that level.

I see your point, but talent and marketability can be two very different things. Let's face it - some of the big name "producers" (i.e., DJs) got to where they are by being good DJs and by being marketable, not because they're the best composers or producers in the EDM industry. They've essentially just become brand names and their audiences have certain expectations of them as far as the quality of releases. Their labels understand this, so they hire ghost writers (or compile remixes). The people doing the ghost writing are either not as marketable (e.g., not good looking, not charismatic enough, etc.), or haven't gotten there yet, or just have no interest in being a superstar DJ.

You have to remember that (1) DJs are not necessarily musicians/composers and (2) musicians/composers aren't necessarily DJs. And, while we're being honest, you should realize that a lot of long-time musicians/composers have little respect for DJs and wouldn't even want to DJ the songs that they write, but are more than willing to write tracks for DJs to spin.

Ideals are great, but when it comes down to doing business (esp. with a major label), they're usually the first thing that gets tossed out the window.

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I am pretty shocked at some of these responses condoning ghost writing.

If there is nothing wrong with it then why conceal the true authors identity?

Why not do the double credit I so often see these days?

When I see a credit that has 2 names I automatically think both parties participated equally(although it may not be true). Are people going to not buy a track because it was made by Tiesto AND Joe Blow? I doubt it. So why is double credit not an option for these top names who have ghost writers?

EGO and GREED!

I see people defending the ghost writers, but this isn't about them. This is about the people who use them, and in my book, having an over inflated EGO and being GREEDY is not a good thing.

quote:

Originally posted by palm People who dont make their own EDM-tracks are fucking lame. No respect from me. No matter how busy they are. Your production should have your signature sound and feeling on it and no one but u (if at all) can get that out. I also think that people that writes music for others are lame really. I cant understand why someone would do that. It means in general that they write pointless music without any feel that they dont want their own name on. to get help on the actualy mixing, leveling, eqing and mastering though is ok in my eyes. thats more a engineer job than an artistic job and if u can get help with that u can get more energy into the creative part.

^this

note that ferry still does everything himself, when he did a tour this year he was saying how he is the only one out of the big 4 and others (like schulz) who still does all his own work...

i liked his point which was that he was always in it for the music, while the others mentioned were in it to be big djs and production was more a means to that end...

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This thread reminds me of a classic thread over at anjunabeats from earlier this year:

http://www.anjunabeats.com/forum/in...=30231&hl=ghost

Anyway, one other point I'd make is that ghost-writing is not limited to EDM and is probably far more prevalent in pop music, where a large majority of the icons are manufactured by the biggest record labels on the planet. Britney Spears is a perfect example - do you really think she would be a megastar if she wrote her own songs? And, what about her songwriters? Do you really think that they could achieve her level of stardom without her? News flash: millions of teenage girls wouldn't plaster their bedroom walls with posters of 40-yo dudes, nor would they stand in a ticket line with their parents for days to get concert tix to see them.

I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but that's the way it is folks, so welcome to reality.

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Last edited by cryophonik on Aug-19-2009 at 02:37

Difference is everyone knows pop starts don't compose songs.

Yup I agree with the original poster. This is total bullshit... just look at all the top names Armin, PVD, Tiesto, Above & Beyond, Ferry Corsten NON OF THEM even produce their own shit and they have ghost writers do it for them .. then they take all the credit for it by just slapping their name on it. I know this for a fact since my friend is deep in the industry. The list of big names just goes on. Maybe they should learn how to produce and do it the real way.

Hmm, I thought Armin and A&B actually made their own stuff. I don't trust some random "yeah, I have a friend deep in the industry" statement. But just looking at Tiesto's liner notes will tell you he has a good deal of help.

quote:

Originally posted by Stylz Difference is everyone knows pop starts don't compose songs.

I don't see how that's different - everyone who listens to TiestoVanBuurenFold knows that they don't produce their own music either. If someone doesn't know that, I have a Nigerian Prince friend that I'd like to introduce them to.

On a side note, I should just add that, while it may sound like I'm OK with the notion of paying a ghost-writer and taking credit for their work, I do find it a bit underhanded as well, but it ultimately doesn't matter too much to me. I like Tiesto's, Armin's, etc. CDs and buy them for the music on them, but I fully realize that they're mostly just compilations and remixes of other people's work. I honestly don't give a rat's ass about any of the DJs/"producers" whose name is on the album and I don't get caught up in the stardom or "sellout" drama that goes along with it - I just like most of the music on the albums regardless of who composed it.

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quote:

Originally posted by Stylz I am pretty shocked at some of these responses condoning ghost writing. If there is nothing wrong with it then why conceal the true authors identity? Why not do the double credit I so often see these days? When I see a credit that has 2 names I automatically think both parties participated equally(although it may not be true). Are people going to not buy a track because it was made by Tiesto AND Joe Blow? I doubt it. So why is double credit not an option for these top names who have ghost writers? EGO and GREED! I see people defending the ghost writers, but this isn't about them. This is about the people who use them, and in my book, having an over inflated EGO and being GREEDY is not a good thing.

THIS!!!!

I'm all for the ghost writers; do what you do, make your paper!

But the guys using them, act like they made these tracks. Unless you're industry talent yourself how the fuck are you going to know that when a track has composed by : ___________ that in actuality that's who wrote the song and not Tiesto or Oakenfold; etc.

I agree double crediting like how collabs are done is the only right way to do this. Tiesto & Joe Schmo - Ten Seconds To Sunrise, etc. Then it gives a person the ability to know over time whom is really behind the sound.

It doesn't feel good growing up listening to something for years and then finding out it was all a lie made in the name of a "brand"

What I don't understand is how DJs are even comfortable promoting tracks as "theirs" when they paid someone else to write them. I would feel like a lowlife if I did that.