BMG announced they will be rolling back at least some aspects of what’s called “controlled compositions” clauses in (presumably) their record deals. This is good, and is another example of how BMG is setting the gold standard for courageously defending their writers. Don’t forget, BMG sued Cox Communications for failing to maintain a repeat infringer […]
For those following our substantive music business postings, the answers to the problem on controlled compositions will be in the April 13 edition of the monthly (signup under the Artist Authorized button), and will be posted on MTP at the end of the month. For the last few weeks, we have posted sections from the […]
Record companies must license the right to sell reproductions of songs in records (or what the Copyright Act defines as “phonorecords”). Record companies (and I use the term broadly to include any distributor of phonorecords) typically will negotiate the maximum mechanical royalty rate that they must pay on records they release. These terms apply to […]
“Mechanical royalties” refer to monies paid to songwriters or music publishers for reproductions of songs in sound recordings (either for permanent downloads or streaming mechanicals). Mechanical royalties (or “mechanicals”) are usually paid by record companies (or outside the US, by digital retailers). In the United States these rates are set by statute and have varied […]
There is a bit of strategy involved with affiliating with a performing rights society in the United States. All the societies have a creative staff. The decision to affiliate with a particular society should be made after the artist/writer has taken some meetings with the performing rights society and decided if there’s more love coming […]
Artist Glossary of Industry Terms: “Advance” An “advance” is almost always defined as a pre-payment of royalties, whether the advance is paid by record company to an artist, a publisher to a writer or a merchandiser to an artist. An advance is also sometimes called a “minimum guarantee”. Advances in the music industry do not […]
