Without a songwriter there is no song

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Singer or songwriter – which do you prefer?

That’s always a hard question but I think the role

of the songwriter is very important. Without the

songwriter there is no song. I really enjoy be-

ing able to make others experience something

through my words and my music. I can also con-

tinue to write songs when I stop performing. As

long as my brain functions, I will always be able

to write songs and create music. Songs never die.

When your name appeared on the credits of

Rihanna’s LOUD album, how did you feel?

There are no words to express it. It’s not just the

excitement of being associated with an artist of

that caliber, but that Bajan [Barbadian] girls are

doing this together and we’re shining a bright

light on our country. I’m very proud of this ac-

complishment.

How does a songwriter earn a living?

It is not that complicated. It’s really just a matter

of managing your IP. A team of writers, musicians

and producers or a combination of these writes a

song. They then decide on the percentage of the

royalties, “the split”, that each writer will receive.

Royalties are usually a percentage of the revenues

derived from the use of the music or of the fixed

price per unit sold. These are paid to a collecting

society, which then distributes them to the copy-

right owners.

Songwriters often work with publishers, giving

them permission to license and synchronize mus-

ic to different platforms (e.g. film, television) in ex-

change for a percentage of the royalties. A good

deal with a powerful and creative publisher can

really boost revenues. Once everyone, including

the record label, is happy with the audio files they

are pressed into CDs or put online.

However, before you can benefit from your IP as a

songwriter, you have to sign up and register your

work with a collecting society. They calculate the

royalty payments due for the use of your material,

collect the money, and make sure you are paid.

Thanks to the sound advice of my manager, Sonia

Mullins, who was adamant that I join COSCAP

right away, I have been able to collect on every-

WITHOUT

A SONGWRITER

THERE IS NO SONG

1 1 million units sold

OCTOBER 2011

22

Caribbean singer-songwriter Shontelle Layne, known to her fans as “Shontelle” entered the global music

scene in 2007 when the team that discovered successful R&B artist Rihanna offered her a deal she could not

refuse. Shontelle’s success as a singer-songwriter comes from her ability to put a story to lyrics in a way that

resonates with her fans. She pens her own music and also writes for other artists, including Rihanna. Shontelle

understood from the outset the import ance of managing her music, her intellectual property (IP), as a business

asset. She recently talked to the WIPO Magazine about the challenges she has faced as a songwriter, the lessons

learned, and her hopes for the future.

Key accomplishments so far:

Shontelle’s recording of “Impossible,” released in early 2010, peaked at number 13 in the Billboard

Hot 100, and its YouTube video clip has had over 30 million viewings.

Her single “T-Shirt” went platinum1 in the United States.

The Obama presidential campaign invited Shontelle to feature her song “Battle Cry” (released in 2008)

on their

Yes We Can: Voice of Grassroots Movement

compilation CD; she also shot a tribute video in honor

of Barack Obama.

She performed as an opening act on tour with R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles.

Her songs feature in various television series and films.

Shontelle has received 11 Barbados Music Awards.

She was the winner of the 2011 Award of Excellence from the Copyright Society of Composers, Authors

and Publishers (COSCAP) Foundation, Inc. in April 2011.