THE MUPPETS trailer

[BrianLynch]

But all three Nirvana members get writing credit on a bunch of their songs, including the song in THE MUPPETS. 

[katy]

I would guess a simple look at the publishing.

Basically.

I know people want to believe in a merry band of brothers and equals and all that.  And there are some bands that are that way, but Nirvana was decidedly not one of them.

I guess people forget that even Kurt's mom went off about this.

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1451598/kurt-cobains-mom-rips-grohl-novoselic.jhtml

[BrianLynch]

But they all get writing credit.  Isn't that more concrete than Kurt's mom?  My mom would be biased in my favor too.

[Luke Erik]

But all three Nirvana members get writing credit on a bunch of their songs, including the song in THE MUPPETS.  

Percentages possibly?

[BrianLynch]

Yeah, I just read that article.  Kurt's Mom says that the other two dudes didn't write any Nirvana songs.  ROCK SOLID!  Kurt obviously wrote all those songs by himself in front of his mother.  

[katy]

But all three Nirvana members get writing credit on a bunch of their songs, including the song in THE MUPPETS.  

I wouldn't call three or four songs out of their entire catalog "a bunch".

As for "Smells like Teen Spirit", according to their own recollections, their contributions consisted solely of Novoselic slowing down the tempo of the opening riff (which Kurt wrote) and Grohl added the distinctive drum beat.  The rest of the song structure, melody, lyrics etc. are 100% Kurt.  

Frankly, I think he was generous to give them writing credit on the few songs he did.  Many session players add just as much, if not more, without being given credit.

[BrianLynch]

So you sat next to Kurt's Mom watching Kurt write all those songs, awesome.

[Steve Lilley]

Kurt obviously wrote all those songs by himself in front of his mother.  

God, I hope so. That's adorable.

[katy]

My mom would be biased in my favor too.

I'll remember this for when you've passed away and your inker wants royalties for all the cartoons you've created.  I'll be like, "suck it, Lynch's mom".

[Dobbin]

But they weren't session players. They were band members who made significant changes that helped make it the giant runaway hit it was. 

[katy]

The Kinks' "You Really Got Me" (among numerous other early 60's British pop hits) would doubtless not have been nearly as good of a song or as big of a hit without the incredible and distinctive playing of a certain session player called Jimmy Page, but still, no credit.

I'd have to look more closely at Hendrix's session work but I expect it's about the same.

NOTE:  I didn't see THE MUPPETS yet and I am assuming they use neither the drum beat nor the tempo of the opening riff of the Nirvana song?  Because if so, then Grohl's or Novoselic's permission is very meaningful.  Otherwise, it's like Ringo granting approval to use one of John Lennon's songs.  Like, nice, thanks Ringo, but it means nothing legally, or even necessarily in terms of what the deceased creator would have wished.

[Hawkboy]

Shouldn't the guy who wrote "More than a Feeling" and whomever owns the rights to "Louie Louie" get some say as well?

[katy]

(Maybe it's not "You Got Me".  It might be "All Day & All of the Night".  I know it's one of them.  Possibly both.)

[BrianLynch]

I'll remember this for when you've passed away and your inker wants royalties for all the cartoons you've created.  I'll be like, "suck it, Lynch's mom".

Well, the stuff I own outright via contract I own (or, I guess, Carrie would).  The stuff I write and other people draw?  All the characters we co-create?  Yes, absolutely they should have a say/part in what happens to them. OF COURSE they should.

[Steve B]

Why is there an argument here?  Somewhere there is a piece of paper that says who get's what.  I'm sure Disney read that piece of paper and dolled out the money to whomever is supposed to get it.
That paper also says who has the right to sell the song.