Tech: Google song link attribution

Subject: Tech: Google song link attribution
From: GUEST,Guest Rossey
Date: 18 Dec 20 - 12:10 PM

I have been increasingly getting irked by Google having subject headings and pages in their song searches using the term "song by"   eg 'song BY Daniel O' Donnell'. This confuses the role of the recording artist and the writer in the minds of the public and other performers. Often the artist is just someone who happened to record the song, not its writer/composer. I cannot for the life of me understand why its not possible to use the term "recorded by" or "performed by" when looking for a song recording.   Is there some technical reason why the one extra word "RECORDED" cannot be included in search result algorithms?   It is like Karaoke and backing tracks listing someone who once recorded the song, but not the writer. I do find it difficult to understand why Google are not clarifying this - one blooming word would make such a difference. For writers, this has meant an erosion of copyright in cover versions, loss of artistic credit - and cultural confusion over where songs originate.   Mudcat is often a great discussion area for the subject of song origins.. but Google seem to be determined to devalue and undermine the significance of songs and their writers   Anybody know a reason why Google can't simply clarify the difference between the writing and recording of songs using one word?    Rant over!

Subject: RE: Tech: Google song link attribution
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Dec 20 - 02:42 AM

Hi, Rossey - Google uses a licensing service named LyricFind as its source for lyrics. Lyric Find displays the title as "song by (singer's name)." At the end of the lyrics, it almost invariably furnishes the songwriter's name.

But it's long been that way on the Internet, and before. When people say "by" so-and-so, they almost always refer to the singer. It's not something we're going to change, but at least Google does furnish the name of the songwriter at the bottom of the lyrics - that's a huge advancement over how it used to be.

Cheers!

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Tech: Google song link attribution
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 20 Dec 20 - 06:39 AM

It's irritating, but I can's see it changing. Though maybe some litigious songwriter with deep pockets will launch a successful prosecution. There's orobably a law against it in some places anyway.

The think is, people use the performer they know about as their pointer to a song, and thst's reasonable, even when the performer in question isn't even the original one who recorded it, let alone wrote it

The sensible thing, of course, which takes account of that, is to show the singer, but have "as recorded by".

Subject: RE: Tech: Google song link attribution
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 20 Dec 20 - 09:08 AM

I can't imagine it having much effect but try their feedback button.

https://www.google.com/tools/feedback/intl/en/#:~:text=Sending%20your%20feedback%20is%20very,your%20feedback%20straight%20to%20G

At least you'd know that you've had your say.

Subject: RE: Tech: Google song link attribution
From: GUEST,Rossey
Date: 20 Dec 20 - 06:30 PM

Thanks Freddy, McGrath, Joe..    It may seem petty.. but for some reason, the Google algorithm will pick out one or two recordings and highlight these in their search results putting it on the righthand side at the top of the page.

Eg. search term 'My Bonnie Maureen' Highlighted on the right hand side of the page -
(magnifying glass visual symbol)   Results
My Bonnie Maureen
Song by Ronnie Ross

It is in reality a song by Stewart Ross, which happens to have been Recorded by Ronnie Ross. The originator is Stewart Ross - the recording artist is Ronnie Ross, or Daniel O' Donnell etc. Tik Tok are also now claiming that the originators of songs are the recording artists involved.. and putting 'Created by' with the title of a song.. even though it is not the writer of the song.. eg 'My Bonnie Maureen', created by Bernard Henry.   Bernard Henry only recorded the song, he didn't write it or ever claim to have written it. He only created a vocal recording! It is these platforms who are undermining and confusing what should be a quite straightforward way of listing a work's origins.

On some streaming services where no information has been supplied by the record company... they often put singer/songwriter under the artist's name - and attribute the recording artist with the song. Record companies and streaming services I think have a vested interest in keeping quiet about who wrote songs - as unattributed monies may sometimes go back into their own pockets.