Who’s really writing those music hits?

‘You are going to make your money back’
Sean Garrett, who has created smashes for Beyoncé, Kelis, Fergie and others, says he gave up credit when he was just starting out, which is common for newcomers. “It bothered me but I knew it was just a price that I had to pay to continue my career and stay focused with the big prize,” he says.

Ne-Yo, a true singer-songwriter who co-wrote Beyoncé’s “Irreplaceable,” says early in his career he had to deal with the same thing. He says some artists feel they are doing a novice a favor by recording their song — especially if it becomes a hit — so they deserve a piece of the royalties.

“If you’re an unknown songwriter and you are lucky enough to get on a superstar’s album and you know that the song is going to be a single,” Ne-Yo says, “and it means if it becomes No. 1 everyone is going to know your name because you wrote it, I think it’s worth giving up a piece of publishing ... you are going to make your money back.”

Shropshire recalls working with an A-list singer, whom he did not want to name, who wrote two words on a song and ended up getting a large piece of the publishing rights. But he couldn’t complain when the song became a hit.

“It didn’t really bother me that much. The song came out and it did wonderfully well,” he says. “That’s just the way the industry works.”

That shouldn’t be the case, says Warren. Although she had credit taken from her early in her career, she quickly put a stop to it. Later, one major superstar demanded some of Warren’s royalties for the privilege of said superstar recording her song. But Warren refused.

“It’s like, ‘OK, you want some publishing? OK then, give me a piece of the money you’re making touring for the next five years for the hit I just wrote you.”

But now that songwriters like Warren, Garrett and Ne-Yo are established, they rarely find themselves taken advantage of any more.

“I give other people credit where credit is due, like Beyoncé really did vocally arrange (‘Irreplaceable’),” Ne-Yo says. “So for someone to come in and take my credit because they are who they are? That doesn’t work for me. I don’t care who you are. ... I’m not going to give you something you don’t deserve.”

MORE FROM MUSIC INTERVIEWS

Sting offers ‘slightly different’ seasonal album

Sting offers ‘slightly different’ seasonal album Shakira says new CD looks out for single ladies 50 Cent: ‘Pain is more monumental than joy’ Katy Perry’s ‘Unplugged’ is ‘swan song’ to ‘Boys’ George Jones: New country needs new name Rod Stewart gets to sing with his idol Underwood stretches her country boundaries   Add Music interviews headlines to your news reader: