Eddie Van Halen deconstructs his collaboration on 'Beat It'

[Gadzooks]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Frank Sinatra couldn't play an instrument and never composed music but in his vast arrogance, suggested that HE received publishing royalties, which are reserved for songwriters and composers only, because HE made the songs famous.

Unfortunately, managers and other artists picked up on this notion down the road and said "I own 50% of whatever you write and record for ME".

Paul Anka is probably the greatest victim of this sort of mentality as far as I can see. He wrote the theme for “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” and was strong armed out of any royalties. They all went to Johnny…
Neil Diamond is on the opposite end of the scale where he receives royalties left and right for songs he wrote for other people where no one knows he wrote them.