The Process of Polka

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TMBJon
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The Process of Polka

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Check out this excerpt by famed Weird Al author Nathan Rabin on the process Al goes through to write and produce his polka medleys:
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Lots of new nuggets in here!
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minnick27
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Re: The Process of Polka

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Yeah I really want to hear these local polkas he did!

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Re: The Process of Polka

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minnick27 wrote:Yeah I really want to hear these local polkas he did!
I know. Al covered Bad Brains!?!?!
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Re: The Process of Polka

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Thanks, that was a great read! Definitely some nuggets there.
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Re: The Process of Polka

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When Yankovic finishes recording a polka medley, they figure out exactly what percentage each song takes up, and negotiate with that song’s publisher to pay that percentage of the regular royalty.

For instance, on that first polka, The Clash’s “Should I Stay Or Should I Go” takes up roughly 7 percent of the song. The Clash’s publisher would have to agree to take 7 percent of their usual fee. Instead of paying 13 royalties, Al would pay one royalty, split 13 ways.
It's a great article, but I didn't quite get this percentage counting system. Do they count the percentage of the song they took from the original song, or the percentage the song takes up in the polka medley? :huh:
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Re: The Process of Polka

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Margarita wrote:
When Yankovic finishes recording a polka medley, they figure out exactly what percentage each song takes up, and negotiate with that song’s publisher to pay that percentage of the regular royalty.

For instance, on that first polka, The Clash’s “Should I Stay Or Should I Go” takes up roughly 7 percent of the song. The Clash’s publisher would have to agree to take 7 percent of their usual fee. Instead of paying 13 royalties, Al would pay one royalty, split 13 ways.
It's a great article, but I didn't quite get this percentage counting system. Do they count the percentage of the song they took from the original song, or the percentage the song takes up in the polka medley? :huh:
They pay based on how much time it takes up on Als version. So if Al did a 15 minute polka with 3 5 minute songs hes using 100% of their song, but its only 33% of his song. Obviously this is an extreme example, but the math was easy for this early

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Re: The Process of Polka

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minnick27 wrote:Margarita wrote:
When Yankovic finishes recording a polka medley, they figure out exactly what percentage each song takes up, and negotiate with that song’s publisher to pay that percentage of the regular royalty.

For instance, on that first polka, The Clash’s “Should I Stay Or Should I Go” takes up roughly 7 percent of the song. The Clash’s publisher would have to agree to take 7 percent of their usual fee. Instead of paying 13 royalties, Al would pay one royalty, split 13 ways.

It's a great article, but I didn't quite get this percentage counting system. Do they count the percentage of the song they took from the original song, or the percentage the song takes up in the polka medley?
They pay based on how much time it takes up on Als version. So if Al did a 15 minute polka with 3 5 minute songs hes using 100% of their song, but its only 33% of his song. Obviously this is an extreme example, but the math was easy for this early
Ok, now I can see it! Thank you! :)
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