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Performing Artist Credits: Soundtrack Composers

Tar Heel

Member
Posts: 5771

Tar Heel @ 2021-03-01 01:15:51 UTC

Another situation where we appear to have inconsistent treatments and an applicable editor failing to reconcile or otherwise provide requested guidance. In short, should and when does an overall soundtrack composer get a performing artist credit? The matter that triggered this post:

https://secondhandsongs.com/error-report/43308


In that specific case there are two different covers of the same work (notably not composed by the overall composer), one a cappella and another with instruments; however, the overall composer was given a performing artist credit for both recordings resulting in only one SHS entry. To me this is the opposite of the correct treatment, in that we should either:

a) Only credit the (in this case) vocalist for both recordings; or

b) Only credit the vocalist for the a cappella recording and both for the other recording.


Option b) raises another question, should we always give a performing artist credit to the overall soundtrack composer for performances originating on a soundtrack or in the related film?


If this is a matter of editor preference, shouldn't we still be consistent within a soundtrack series (e.g. "James Bond" films)?

Tar Heel

Member
Posts: 5771

Tar Heel @ 2021-03-06 07:09:50 UTC

Again no responses from the applicable editor nor the community?


Based on another example from another soundtrack, it would appear the the performing artist credit for the overall soundtrack composer is completely a matter of editor discretion without any need for consistency. Seems odd to me based on similar SHS rules and best practices.