FAQ

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Obviously, the best arrangement is for the person who writes the songs to have it clearly stated that they wrote the songs. Consult an attorney with specific knowledge about intellectual property. You need to get a clear agreement as to who owns what.

Both independent and major labels offer career development and artist promotion. Determining which is right for your career is a personal decision.

Copyright is an exclusive right granted by law that allows you to control the use of your creative works. The current copyright term is life plus 70 years after the death of the surviving writer or author of the work.

Agents are all about finding gigs/shows for bands, but they can also help set up sponsorship opportunities for tours and help with logistics in general.

In today’s competitive climate, major and indie labels are looking for something unique, talented and well developed. Record labels are in the business of making money from the artists that they sign. The labels want bands and artists that have built a following by touring and that have already sold self-released CDs. Be smart, do your homework!  Know what demographic your fans are in, and develop savvy marketing strategies that will help you stand out from the rest of the unsigned artists. Apply to play at a BMI showcase in your local area. Apply to showcase at one of the top music conferences, such as SXSW or CMJ. Attend seminars and other educational workshops where key A&R people will be in attendance and contact the local colleges, radio stations and newspapers to further publicize you. Build a unique and informative website that includes a bio, photos, song samples and tour dates.

It is usually the job of a publisher to pair your songs up with artists. This is one of the creative functions a publisher provides.

The Musician’s Atlas and the Music Registry are just two examples, but there are lots of directories on the market. Google can help you find them and most are available via Amazon.com.

A synchronization license for the use of a song as an accompaniment to a film or television show. The rate is usually negotiated by a music publisher.

Each performing rights organization has its own fees for setting up a publishing company and many impose an annual charge or collect annual dues. BMI, for example, charges a one-time fee of $150 for individually owned publishing companies and $250 for partnerships, corporations (including sole stockholder corporations) and limited liability companies.