http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/business/la-et-kroffts26-2008jul26,0,7036719.story
From Geoff Boucher’s column today on Sid & Marty Krofft
The Kroffts began renting out their puppet and production savvy. They designed stage productions for fairs and amusement parks, took corporate work from Ford and Coca-Cola, and did some work for Walt Disney as well. Marty had crossed paths with the entertainment icon in 1959; Marty was at the Polo Lounge having drinks with Charisse when Disney stopped by to chat and gave him a bit of advice. As Marty remembers it: “He told me, ‘The one thing to remember is, don’t ever sell anything you create and always put your name above the title, whatever you do. They’ll fight you off from doing it, but stick to it.’
To a certain degree, I’m pretty sure that was Bill Gates’ approach….
A few years back, a lawyer (who was trying to negotiate the purchase of music I had written) tried to convince me that only Rodgers and Hammerstein got their names over the title of their shows… I didn’t buy into it then. I don’t buy into it now.
I also ended up not selling (or even licensing) my music to them!
Hit the little iTunes button at the very bottom of the page. It will link you to a children’s album I wrote and produced for BMG. At the end of the contract term, all rights to the masters and the publishing still belonged to me.
Oh, and my kids!!