Songwriting Competition - restriction on vocal sample usage (December 2022)

[Mister Fox]

Hello everyone,


this particular topic resulted from debates I had both on the forum, and behind the scenes. The following statement is not intended to stifle creativity of the Songwriting Competition, but to provide a fair basis for all who wish to participate in the future.

⚠	Moderation Message from Mister Fox
	As of January 2023, no vocal phrases/a cappella sample library may be used anymore as center piece of a production. No lead vocals are allowed that are not your own, made by a vocalist for this track specifically (including providing proper credits), or by created custom phrases through the help of sample instruments and/or vocal synthesis. (see examples below) Not allowed: Samples that have pre-recorded lyric lines or phrases, that are part of construction kits and/or already in a certain song-key. Examples: Ghosthack: Ultimate Acapella Collection, Future Pop Nation, Heavy Vocals, Reggaeton & Pop Vocals, among others LANDR: any vocal pack (e.g. Soul Session Vocals & Keys, Electro Soul Vocals, Singer Songwriter Vocals), among others Loopmasters (from all listed companies): Ultimate Vocals, Chillwave Vocals, Liquid DnB Vocals, Blues Rock Acapellas, Supreme House Vocals, Vocal Toolkit, RNB Vocals, among others Slate Digital: Omnivox, Empress Trapsoul Splice Sound: Best Vocal Samples, Galaxy EDM Vocals, KARRA Vocal Sample Pack, Vocal Hooks, among others Zero-G: Dancehall Vocals, Dance Vocals, Rock & Pop Vocals, among others ...or similar Allowed Sample Sets and Vocal Synthesizers: Samples (selection): EWQL Symphonic Choirs Ghosthack Abstract Vocals Impact Soundworks Allura Realivox Blue or The Ladies Red Room Audio Snaps Claps Slaps Stomps & Shouts Soundiron Questionable Barbershop Splash Sound Indie Voices Zero-G Ethera We Sound Human Vocal Packs ...or similar -- as long as you completely customize provided patterns. Voice synths (selection): Dreamtonics Synthesizer V Pro Envoice Inc. Emvoice Plogue Chipspeech or Alter/Ego Yamaha Vocaloid ...or similar Understandably, "sampling" is a foundation of hip hop music. The idea here is not to prohibit you from doing so in any future productions of yours, but rather push / encourage your creativity instead of taking something "off the shelf" and simply re-pitch it as needed Examples: With songs like "Dua Lipa - Swan Song", "Jigg - So Hot", "Jay Z - The Story of OJ", "The Chemical Brothers - Block Rocking Beats", "The Prodigy - Voodoo People", "The Wiseguys - Start the Commotion", etc -- the main focus is the music and custom written lyrics. The ever so often seeded in and heavily altered voice samples work as additional effect. With songs like "Moby - Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?", "Fatboy Slim - Praise You", "Eminem - Stan", "ProleteR - April Showers" or "AcesToAces - Stay With Me", etc -- the music has been built around an an already pre-recorded vocal phrase, or even a whole song section. The focus is "that" particular sample with barely any added original content. While I understand the desire to "produce something amazing," and in certain cases even compete with other vocal productions... Songs with vocals have never been a requirement for the Songwriting Competition. In fact, some games require that you refrain from doing so. However, if you want to add vocals to your production but have limited access to them (e.g., you don't know anyone who can sing for you, or because you don't consider yourself capable enough due to various reasons), there are many affordable alternatives to creating/requesting custom "vocal lines" that are equal to, if not better than, "pre-recorded" (lyrical) content. Not to mention that your material will be unique. Collaboration within our community is also highly encouraged so that a resident vocalist can be contacted if needed. For example through Discord.

Possible exceptions:

Might happen on a per-game premise and will be pointed out specifically.



Rule Book update:

The Rule Book section will be updated within the coming weeks.



Thanks for reading.



INFO: Post originated on on 18-DEC-2022, edited for more clarity on 20-DEC-2022.

[Arelem]

I have to say I'm disappointed in this decision. I though kukobass and I made some pretty strong arguments for allowing 3rd party vocals over in the gossip channel.

[Olli H]

I like these new clearly defined rules concerning the use of vocal samples. Here's some thoght's that came to my mind.

SWC can be considered more broadly as a "music making" competition or more precisely as a "song writing" competition. I guess it's up to Mr Fox to decide how he wants to define it.

If we think the SWC as a "song writing" competition, then we are using juridically defined words. Legistlation tries to answer the question: if our submission is played in Spotify, YouTube or radio, who is entitled to get the money for that? And the answer probably is: copyright covers only the melody and lyrics of a song.

And even if we prefer to think SWC as "music making" competition, we must be careful with issues related to copyright issues.

Here are some definitions: https://entertainmentlaw.uslegal.com/mu ... ngwriting/

"Songwriting is the process of writing the lyrics, as well as the music composition or melody to songs."

"The person who writes the lyrics is a lyricist and the one who writes the music is the composer."

When we are listening music, there are also other issues that are separate from songwriting, but that are still important. For example: the arrangement, mixing, mastering, performance (players, singers) etc. And when it comes to music that was made after the birth of rock'n'roll, it's quite normal that the songwriting (=copyright) part may be quite poor, but the arrangement and performance turns the song into a hit. But still, the money of the radio play goes to copyright owner.

https://www.berklee.edu/berklee-today/s ... ers-rights

"The financial rewards of an arranging career are limited. Arrangers are paid per job, and the fee isn’t huge. If they keep working and get jobs every week, they can pay their mortgages. Arrangers receive no royalties unless they write an arrangement of a public-domain work."

So, as "music makers" we have to acknowledge the importance of sound, arrangement, performance, melody, lyrics, etc. But if we happen to make a radio hit, money goes to the songwriter (melody, lyrics) and publisher.

So, when it comes to submissions to "song writing" competition, I think it's quite natural to expect that contestant (person or team) is also a copyright owner of the submission. But when it comes to voting process — although I personally concentrate almost entirely into songwriting part — it's totally ok for me that each and every person emphasize whatever aspect of the music making they want to emphasize.

[becsei_gyorgy]

I understand the decision, although like all things, there are many sides to it.

positive aspects:
- someone will not be at a disadvantage with lower quality or "homemade" vocals, compared to professional sound libraries
- the composer will be forced to create his own melodies (possibly also lyrics) and melody lines - not just create a backing track behind an existing melody, lead vocal (although this is also not easy as a beginner).

negative aspects:
- a very important part of the learning process is how to incorporate a ready-made, sung vocal track (or several) into the song. For many people who don't have the opportunity to have their own vocals, this is a very good development opportunity.
- there are genres where vocal samples accepted in general (and there may be a month in this competition when there will be an exception because of the genre). I can understand if a guitar songwriter doesn't use such things, but it's common practice in electronic music to use them.
Even now, on beatport's 100 hits list, there are several songs with samples taken from a vocal library. People I know say that if a song really wants to be good, it "deserves" its own vocals, but it's perfectly natural for melodic techno tracks, for example, to have samples taken from libraries like that.

In any case, the use of vocal libraries should not be a legal issue: usually the purchase of vocal libraries gives the author the full right to create various works with their material.

I think it is not possible to say whether one way or the other (total ban or authorisation) is better than the other. It is simply a matter of choice.

(as I read it, this ban only applies to lead vocals (??), the use of vocal chops, effects will be allowed, or as a background element (atmosphere), for example, you can use vocal samples, even full phrases in a given key (also common in electronic music).

[Mister Fox]

Post update
As talked about on Discord, I've reached out to a handful of fellows to ask for their opinions to address the sudden perceived unfairness of the recent announcement. We came to the conclusion that slight modifications are in order.

The changes to the upper post (post #001) have now been made.

Among other things:

• a more clear introduction sentence
• adding additional clarification prior to the last two paragraphs
• clearing confusion regarding ad-lips, chants and shouts, by providing song examples

This should now cover all eventualities.

Thanks for reading.

[Mister Fox]

I must have over-read this, but @Olli H is actually making a very valid point here...

...

If we think the SWC as a "song writing" competition, then we are using juridically defined words. Legistlation tries to answer the question: if our submission is played in Spotify, YouTube or radio, who is entitled to get the money for that? And the answer probably is: copyright covers only the melody and lyrics of a song.

And even if we prefer to think SWC as "music making" competition, we must be careful with issues related to copyright issues.

...

The main topic can also be "legalities" in this case.

Sure, while sample companies state "these are Royalty Free Samples, and you can use them in all of your production" (paraphrased), who is to say that somebody else didn't use the same content already, unaltered, then submitted through label ABC. And once you're submitting your own content with material from similar sample packs or construction kits, even slightly altered, you're suddenly in very hot water.



This has been a topic for several years now. If you want to take a "dip", then the following two videos are a good starting point as food for thought.


By Venus Theory from September 2022

phpBB [media]

By Sync My Music from February 2020

phpBB [media]

And for completeness sake, a quick Youtube search:



In fact, this has also already become a huge topic with voice synthesizers like Yamaha Vocaloid (most notably the infamous Miku Hatsune craze, which was then also used as "image theme" for various indie games and "virtual reality" outlets). There are hundreds of thousands of songs of similar nature (because the style asked for it), being built around a Vocaloid voice, or the same that everyone else used. And hundreds of those are connected to certain big labels.

With engines like the "Content ID System" on Youtube, you might instantly run into a lot of headaches. Here are two pages for possible ramifications. The Wikipedia page on Vocaloid also has a section on legal implications.



Again, the idea here is not to stifle creativity, but to be more mindful.

You can always create an amazing mock-up for something. All the more power to you - you've made music in the first place. However - and to make rhetorical questions. Where do you go from there? How do you make your creation unique?



All of this might sound more creatively restricting at the moment - but you will be more trouble free in the long run.


Thanks for reading.



(topic temporary closed on 21-DEC-2022 - 23:55 UTC+1/CET)