Re: PUBLISHING/copyright question

Date: Thu, 8 May 2003 08:04:52 -0500
Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.songwriting
Size: 5,108 bytes

Let me change the business model and re-ask the question. Let's say I setup
a site and give free access to lyric sheets and chord charts for a catalog
of songs, by various writers/artists. On each "free" page, there's a link
where they can buy an audio copy (performance track, accompaniment track AND
tracks of each vocal part for teaching purposes) for say, $5/song. I assume
statutory rate is in effect for the audio copy but will I have any legal
problems by providing the lyric and chord sheets?
"Danny Taddei" <email-address-deleted> wrote in message
news:email-address-deleted...
> I guess I didn't do that great a job either..... No matter if it is a CD
or
> some other form of audio, if a sound recording is sold, a royalty will be
due
> the publisher and no matter what the chords are written on, the folio
royalties
> will be due to the publisher. For all you need the licenses. IF you make
some
> sort of subscription up where they pay 20 a month, and the publisher
agrees to
> take a cut of that then you would be doing the same thing as before but
for
> fixed percentage of subscription rather then for each sale. In either
case, the
> url's that I posted should get you going.
>
> Good luck
>
> BigUn wrote:
>
> > I don't think I explained myself very well. I'm not looking to sell CDs.
> > This would be an internet-based business where a user would download
> > specific songs. I guess the model would still be the same though. Let's
say
> > we sold an accompaniment track for $2, then we'd owe .16 to the writer.
That
> > seems pretty cut and dried.
> >
> > The other side is what's a bit confusing. Let's say I'm charging
$20/month
> > for access to a lyric library. Each page of song lyrics (a single song)
has
> > the band chord chart on it. I'm thinking that the subscription would
allow
> > the user access to unlimited lyric/chord sheets where they could then
> > download, print-out, etc. for their own use. Is there a royalty involved
in
> > that?
> >
> > "Danny Taddei" <email-address-deleted> wrote in message
> > news:email-address-deleted...
> > > Anytime you record, sell or distribute music that has a copyright on
it,
> > you
> > > owe someone something. There are 2 ways that you need to deal with
this:
> > > Mechanical royalties and folio
> > >
> > > If you record music you must have clearance and /or pay a mechanical
> > royalty to
> > > the publisher of the song. If you are recording something not yet
released
> > you
> > > need the clearance but doesn't sound like what you are up to. (or if
you
> > were
> > > to link it to video or something like that you would need to have a
sync.
> > > license) but in every case, you need to pay royalties to the copyright
> > holder -
> > > the publisher. If the songs are cleared properly, you can just call
ascap
> > or
> > > bmi http://www.bmi.com http://www.ascap.com - clearance is something
the
> > > writers were suppose to do, not your. If not, try contacting the
artist
> > and
> > > they will likely be thrilled you want to help them make some money. -
the
> > > standard amount which goes up each year is about 8 cents per song per
cd
> > sold
> > > and for folio - usually a percentage of the amount you collect for the
> > sheet
> > > music at retail value. Everything is negotiable but the costs are so
low
> > that
> > > it is actually fun to pay for what you use.
> > >
> > > bmi and ASCAP can help help you work out the details too. Try calling
> > ascap
> > > (number at the site) because they are often more reachable.
> > >
> > > BigUn wrote:
> > >
> > > > I'm a part-time music minister and have a small, private website
where
> > I've
> > > > posted lyrics to praise and worship songs. I basically use it as a
way
> > to
> > > > have remote access to lyric/chord sheets for the songs that we use.
I
> > built
> > > > it myself.
> > > >
> > > > I have this "pie in the sky" idea of fleshing it out and creating a
site
> > > > where users can become "subscribers", which would give them access
to
> > the
> > > > lyric/chord sheets. In addition, I'd also cut tracks of each song
that
> > would
> > > > have accompaniment (band) tracks as well as mixes for teaching vocal
> > parts
> > > > (SAT). Downloading tracks would be a premium, say $1-$5/song.
> > > >
> > > > Can anybody give me any input in the area of how this would handled
in
> > > > paying royalties? Do I owe royalties for the lyric/chord sheets? How
am
> > I
> > > > suppose to handle royalties on sing-along tracks? Please copy your
> > response
> > > > to me at email-address-deleted since I can't get by here often.
> > > >
> > > > Thanks everyone.
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > After all my years in music, with thousands of hours of public
> > performance
> > > > to my credit, I can assure you of one thing: The are only two kinds
of
> > > > music, "Good" and "Bad".
> > > > If it ain't good, it's bad. If it ain't bad, it's good.
> > >
> > > --
> > > Danny Taddei
> > >
> > > There's a horizon on every side. Let your soul inside be the guide and
> > lead the
> > > way.
> > > http://members.cox.net/sandycove/index.html
> > >
> > >
>