I get this alot.
“How much did Def Leppard pay you for your assistance?”
The initial reaction from a lot of people that I get is that I should be compensated monetarily for sending Def Leppard a bunch of live versions of their tracks. Their intellectual property; songs that they wrote, performed and toured. All I did was download them for free when they were offered, over 20 years ago. I imagine a lot of people did. The only thing I did differently was burn them to a CD so I could keep them forever.
It was suggested that I should have asked for $10,000. I’ve even been told that Leppard should have let me have some copyright action so I can play the songs on my show without getting a strike. My show didn’t exist when I sent them the tracks, and I can’t even imagine how that arrangement would work out. (Short answer – it wouldn’t.) But I wasn’t going to hold these tracks hostage for some kind of deal.
When I was initially contacted about the Def Leppard live rarities in my collection, I was eager to contribute. Anything I could do for one of my favourite bands. I just wanted to help Def Leppard make the best box set they could. The concept of compensation never entered my mind. But I was compensated, with a free copy of the CD Collection Vol. 2, and a big huge thank-you in the liner notes. Additionally they credited my website so they could direct curious traffic straight to me.
Since that time, I’ve maintained contact with my label insider and have enjoyed our chats about what’s coming, what’s impossible and what we wish for. I value that relationship and enjoy our “off the record” conversations about what’s going on behind the scenes.
I never felt entitled to compensation. I didn’t write the songs. I didn’t record them. I just sent back the files that I downloaded from Def Leppard in the first place. To see my name in that special thank-you credit was more than enough! How many people do you know personally who were credited in a box set by a band as big as Def Leppard? And that’s forever. Long after I’m gone, my name will still be in there. That is reward enough for me!
mikeladano.com 
It’s a huge feather in your cap.
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I agree man.
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Money is all that some can see.
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“They can afford it” – common comment.
“They also have tons of other songs they could have used in the vault if I refused” – me.
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I’m with you Mike, I would’ve helped one of my favorite bands for free! Just for the pure satisfaction of I contributed to something they released. To have your name in the credits is for me the biggest reward. The fact you got a free box set is just icing on the cake. Plus, if you would’ve asked for money, they would’ve found someone else with the file. I think you did it right!!!
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Yep bingo. Or they would have just used something else from the vault. I think they found the tapes for the Montreal show so they could have just used that.
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Given the financial history of record labels, the last thing I would ask them for is money.
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Hah! Good one!
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I agree with metal man. A feather in your cap.
Very cool to see your name in the credits.
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That’s crazy, dude. I would never expect money for giving an artist their own freakin’ songs. I can’t believe anyone would suggest differently.
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Maybe I’m the idiot and I missed out on 10 grand
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Having your name credited in a Def Leppard box set is pretty cool already! That’s awesome you still keep in contact with your label insider!
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I’m glad he still answers me! We have great chats. He knows his stuff believe me!
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That’s awesome! I’m so happy for you!
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Thanks Lana! Some people are happy for me, others think I got ripped off. LOL
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Oh no! You brought up a good point! It’s not like you wrote those songs.
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While I wouldn’t have asked for money to help a band with a box set nor does it make sense to ask for money on their songs, I have being involved in bands and copyrights in the past and I’ve seen some crazy stuff.
Like a person who recorded a live show of a band claiming to own the copyrights to the songs because it was recorded on their equipment.
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The guy who suggested I ask for $10,000 is mad at me for posting this. LOL. I didn’t name him, chill out dude!
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