SHARE: Trees - Unreleased songs and mixes

[onlysynth]

The artist owns their material until they sell the rights to someone else. Until that time, the artist is within their rights to exert some level of control over the publishing of their material. A label seeking a license to publish material owned by the artist must relinquish any expectation of having unilateral control over how the project is put together. The label/publisher must work hand-in-hand with the artist, in good faith, to arrive at acceptable compromises which please both parties and allow the project to move forward. The amount of work and funds expended in preparation for publishing are not the basis for establishing the proportions of control over the project, for they have no relation to the amount of work and funds expended in the creation of the material. If either party to the project is unsatisfied with any aspect of the project, and a compromise cannot be reached, then whatever agreement is in effect, casual or formal, should be severed and the project canceled. In this case, it sounds like both parties were insistent about particulars of the project, both parties were unsatisfied and unable to present acceptable compromises, so the project was canceled. Unfortunate, yes. Unforgivable, no. The world of music publishing is fraught with personality. Some can find their way past that, and others cannot. No one person is to blame. It just didn't work out this time.