You're a millionaire, you just don't know it yet.

You're a millionaire, you just don't know it yet.

For us musicians, being creative comes naturally; it's understanding the business behind our songs that's tough.

My name is Lalo, and I'm here to teach you how to monetize your ideas. But first, let me tell you about how my ignorance led me to sign with an international publisher and earn tens of thousands of dollars.

Rookie vs. Managers

They say making it in music is tough, requiring talent, a bit of luck, and sheer stubbornness. Of all these, stubbornness is something I have in abundance. I'm not an exemplary student, and before every exam, my stomach knots as if I'd eaten 4 Big Macs, and my hands sweat profusely. (Imagine how tough piano exams were)

But, against all odds, I graduated from a prestigious art institution.

Shortly after, I worked with the biggest artists in my country and realized that the music I helped create made a lot of money, but little of it ended up in my pocket.

I thought, I need to charge more. I became an expert in debating the contracts that record labels sent me week after week. Also, I renegotiated my rates with all the artists I worked with, which almost cost me a client or two. It was a leap of faith, but gradually I felt that by doing this, I was not only making money but also gaining respect. When it came to discussing amounts or payment dates, they themselves would bring up the figures as the first point of any conversation.

Even though I started making more money, I realized the amount clients paid me for my services was just one of many income streams I could tap into for my work.

Yet, despite seeing the money from a distance, I still had no idea how to collect it.

Farewell, Stages.

Then the pandemic hit, and all live shows were canceled. A forced pause. Out of boredom, I picked up reading again and stumbled upon the concept of "music royalties."

A brief paragraph online mentioned the importance of intellectual property documents called Split Sheets. I told myself, "Now that I'm stuck indoors, I'll study what this is all about."

By chance, I did an Instagram live with an artist I worked with. Afterward, he said, "I don't know about you, but I can't go on without shows. Why don't you come to my place for a few days and we make music?"

I thought about it... and agreed, but on one condition: we'd create at least one song a day.

We didn't know if those songs would ever see the light of day, and, as usual, I went without knowing if I would get paid. I'm sure if I'd thought it through, I wouldn't have left my house, haha.

Defying all laws of physics, I packed an entire recording studio in my backpack. We set up in the living room and got to work. It was a place with lots of natural light, and almost the entire floor was carpeted. I think I walked barefoot every day, feeling the wool under my fingers while I wrote in a notebook.

Although I was excited, I wasn't sure if I could meet my own condition.

As days passed, the lockdown caused our creativity to explode. We made more than 15 songs, each different and special in its own way. We were very happy... until then.

I realized that as the project progressed, people came and went; producers, guest artists, executives, all sorts. I kept thinking, "How do I make sure I don't get diluted and show that I'm an important part of all this?"

All I managed to do was talk to this artist, and we agreed that 50% of the authorship of those songs belonged to me, again, on faith that it meant something. It all came down to a verbal agreement between the two of us.

I had no idea that simple conversation would be one of the most important in my career.

I returned home torn. On one hand, happy for the beautiful music we had made, but on the other, filled with great uncertainty. Something told me that chapter was over.

A month later, my phone rang. It was an unknown number, from another country. It was Ana, president of the management agency of this artist. She wanted to ask me about my percentages in those songs.

"Are you sure you contributed enough to take 50%? Who made the main melody? We've had artists give away percentages without even asking us."

"We're not sure you deserve 50% of what those songs will generate," she said, and they needed to know if it was indeed correct. They didn't seem very happy.

I found myself in a situation where all my work depended on the word of one person... the artist. That's when I remembered the document I read before leaving my house. Had I used it, I wouldn't be going through this!

If I don't back my version, I'll end up with nothing.

Why I make music.

Eventually, 80% of the music we made was registered as agreed upon and published. This caught the attention of one of the world's largest Music Publishers, with whom I signed shortly thereafter. Everything began to be worthwhile.

Have you noticed how your stomach feels when you receive good news? That's exactly how I feel right now.

I immediately accessed an economic situation I had never experienced before, which I used to nourish myself professionally and travel to the United States.

Today, I am convinced that it is possible to live off music, but it is extremely necessary to be able to establish your participation in the music you make, in an easy and secure way.

That's why in June 2023, we launched Divisi, a revolutionary platform that allows artists, songwriters, and music producers to back their rights and receive fair compensation for their creations.

It has been a beautiful process to see how people genuinely thank you for thinking of them. I feel what sets us apart is that we not only see the problem, we live it.

I never understood it so clearly.

Grey areas only exist because we allow them, and just like an Oscar or a Nobel Prize, being an artist means respecting and recognizing ideas, both your own and those of others.

Not establishing your creative contribution in a timely manner is like a snowball; it may seem insignificant at first but can have a huge impact later on.

From today, every day I am more convinced of what we tell our users.

Your mission is our mission.

Don't throw away your ideas or your money, welcome to Divisi.