Re: [ARSCLIST] Mellencamp

[steven c <stevenc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Olhsson" <olh@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Karl Miller wrote:
> >I have wondered, how does one make sure the mechanical rights and such
are
> >paid for those CDR's?
> >
> >Do you know how that works?
>
> In most cases it will be the band's own compositions.
>
> It also ought to be very easy for a touring band that's performing a
publisher's music nationally to negotiate a mechanical license "paid on
copies sold and paid for." Most likely the publisher will even accept
something less than the compulsory rate.
>
Having looked into this extensively while thinking about issuing (1) CD's of
my own
group(s), and (2) CD's of material from my half-vast shellac archive...

If I were resident in the USA, I would need to deal with the Harry Fox
Agency. They
collect a certain fee for each song for which they are authorized to collect
royalties
due the publisher (most, but not all...in some cases publishers look after
this
themselves)...and charge me in advance for the first 100 copies I plan to
press.
In most cases, this comes to between $1 and $2 per CD.

Since I'm up here in the frozen northland, I deal with the CMRRA (Canadian
Music
Rights R<something> Agency) who function pretty well the same way.

Note, however, that I don't have to pay for the use of my own material (not
quite true in one case, since the chap who owned the studio and played
keyboards set up a paper "publishing company" that in theory I owe money
to if I use those songs of mine[!]). My first CD has 6 cover songs and four
of my own, so I should (in theory) be paying 6 * the per/song rate to sell
those CD's.

As far as reissues of 78 material, I would need to look up how many of
the songs listed have fallen into the public domain (in this case, only
per the publishing copyright, which is totally separate from the copyright
on the SOUND RECORDING...which lasts forever and twelve days
down in the USA, but so far only fifty years here in Canada!) and then
pay publisher's royalties only for the songs that still have valid
copyrights.

Fortunately, it is very unlikely that the copyright on "Since Willy Got a
Whippet" was renewed...in fact, since Grey Gull "died intestate" there
wouldn't be anyone around to sue me!

Steven C. Barr