I should know this but?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rusty K
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Rusty K

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Hello,

I'm getting ready to come out with a CD of music, mostly original but it will have three or four songs I've covered. What should I do legally to protect my ass on the cover songs? Pay a fee to ASCAP or BMI? These are oldies with my arrangements. Could they be public domain and if so how could I find out?

Thanks,
Rusty K
 
Unless it's before like 1912 at LEAST, it ain't public domain. You will have to pay mechanical royalties... I'm not sure to who though.
 
Hugo H...writing four new tunes to fit the theme/genre of the CD might be just a little bit of a hassle too.

grn...thanks I hope someone else will weigh in on this one.

Rusty K
 
You'd probably be best to just call ASCAP or whoever covers the artists and ask. I think the price is $0.085 per song-copy now.

...or just call the lable and ask who you should be talking to.
 
zek....thanks that's the best advice so far. Is that $.085 per song copy sale?
In other words for four tunes it would be $.34 per CD sale?


Rusty K
 
The Harry Fox Agency are the folks to contact. Depending on the amount of CDs you are making, you may not even get a mechanical liscense...you may have to go for a cumpulsory liscense. Yes, you pay per CD...whether you sell them or give them away. Sometimes if it is a short run and you contact the company that owns the publishing you can get the lic. for free.
 
DALtune,

Thanks I'll check to see if they have a website. This CD is a "do it yourself" project. I will burn them as needed and distribute locally at such places as CD Baby and I Tunes if possible so there is no big run of copies. I'll report back when I've learned something from the Harry Fox Agency.

Thanks again,
Rusty K
 
Harry Fox is who to contact, but you can also go to songfile.com and get info there. It's for blanket licences for small run duplication (under 2500). I believe the price is 8.5 cents per song per copy, so 1000 copies would run $85.00 per song.

Since you are burning as you go, you may have to do some research on that. I don't honestly know if there's a per copy charge or there is a minimum that needs to be paid for first.The internet's a wonderful place. Be persistent and you'll find your answers. I'm probably just repeating what others have said anyway, but what I described is the way I've done it recently.
 
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