General Music Chat

I've read on here from all kinds of musicians, that no one can make it in the music biz with there own material (especially old guys like me), make it as in good money. Then my question is why do you copyright all your songs you put on your CD? Why join ASCAP or BMI? If you think you'll never be successful, wouldn't this money be better spent buying lottery tickets? Can you be successful at anything with that attitude? In this new age of computers do you really need to register your copyright (since any new material you write is copyrighted wen you right it down), isn't placing your songs on utube or reverbnation or your website, etc...., actually registering your copyright anyhow? Should you just put all your new material out on the web and push it as hard as u can, and hope for the best. Like in my old business, I always figured they would n't steal it unless it was good.

R registering copyrights with the gov't soon to be a thing of the past? Isn't the copyright register fees just a tax? When are u going to stand up to the gov't and say I refuse to pay all these frivolous taxes.

Lynard, the fee's for Copyright are so minimal I always wondered how they were able to stay in business. I just never considered it a tax. ASCAP or BMI basically make sure everyone on the recordings submitted gets the money they are owed. I always considered that one a no brainer. That's just my opinion. As far as my recordings they are like my children and I want to make sure only the people that create them or invest make money off of them ME! I write arrange and record as a creative outlet for me. I don't expect to ever make money off them. Having said that if anyone ever does it better be me or anyone that invest in them. Yes the days of the record companies are almost gone. These days if you want you can write record promote and have complete control over your own songs or art. IMO your chances of making any real money are about the same as playing the lottery. Believe me I have tried. I know Ted will disagree but like I said that's just my opinion.

Copyrights and joining BMI or ASCAP is just a little peace of mind. The chances of somebody stealing any of your tunes is slim, but there's always a chance. It's better to be safe than sorry. And no, putting a tune on Youtube or Reverbnation is NOT as sure as a copyright. You would have to prove in a court of law that somebody stole your song off Youtube or wherever you have it loaded, and that would be your word against somebody else's. Flip a coin to see who wins, and if they have a high powered attorney that coin would probably come up 99% in the other guy's favor. No, I believe there still is value in copyrights and joining BMI or ASCAP. Now, if you feel that your songs are crap, then go ahead and buy lottery tickets instead.

I simply do not buy into the generalizations.

To say one cannot because of this or that is self limiting nonsense in the first place. And for a believer like myself it verges on profane to set any limitations on what is possible.

Also there is that exposure factor.
There are routes of possible public exposure that are not available for materials not under a Copy Right.

As for the rest of the question. Only time will tell . . . and I'm not waiting on it.

US Copyright cost $30 - for one song, or a whole CD at the same time. That's pretty cheap 'insurance' - as has been said, if someone steals your song with no copyright, the person with the best lawyer will win.
BMI is free to join and register your songs, as a songwriter.

I've read on here from all kinds of musicians, that no one can make it in the music biz with there own material (especially old guys like me), make it as in good money.

I am a firm believer that anyone who is determined and willing to work towards a goal can do anything they dream of. How soon they get started and how smart they work will determine how far they will go.

Then my question is why do you copyright all your songs you put on your CD?

There are several reasons, but the main reason to do that is to establish legal ownership for punitive damages.

If you don't have a legal copyright, you can still prove ownership in a courtroom and make someone stop using your song, but you won't be given punitive damages (payment for money you might have made if the song weren't stolen)

Why join ASCAP or BMI?

You have to show up in sales or performance charts somewhere before they will help you, but they are the only ones who pay songwriter royalties for airplay and performances.

Do you perform original music live? If you are a member (and BMI doesn't charge songwriters to join) they will pay a royalty to you for that.

check out bmi.com/live



Unless, like me, you do concerts of your own original worship music in a church. Then you're screwed.

If you think you'll never be successful, wouldn't this money be better spent buying lottery tickets?

I've never bought one so I don't know...but I doubt its comparable.

Can you be successful at anything with that attitude?

No.

In this new age of computers do you really need to register your copyright (since any new material you write is copyrighted wen you right it down), isn't placing your songs on utube or reverbnation or your website, etc...., actually registering your copyright anyhow?

Again, that can prove ownership date but it won't allow you to sue for punitive damages.

Should you just put all your new material out on the web and push it as hard as u can, and hope for the best. Like in my old business, I always figured they would n't steal it unless it was good.

That's a strategy that lots of people use.

I used to say that if someone could steal my music and figure out how to make money on it, I was going to hire them to be my manager. LOL

That's what record labels are for, I guess.

R registering copyrights with the gov't soon to be a thing of the past? Isn't the copyright register fees just a tax? When are u going to stand up to the gov't and say I refuse to pay all these frivolous taxes.

There is a new way now. This is really smart, imo.

https://www.copyrightsworld.com




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Yod stop making sense. Thanks I'm going to look that site over.

That's the way I see it GMike, insurance, taxes and insurance.

There is a new way now. This is really smart, imo.

https://www.copyrightsworld.com

Haven't seen that place before, wondering if it really gives you protection in a US Court of Law ....

I've read on here from all kinds of musicians, that no one can make it in the music biz with there own material (especially old guys like me), make it as in good money.

I am a firm believer that anyone who is determined and willing to work towards a goal can do anything they dream of. How soon they get started and how smart they work will determine how far they will go.

Then my question is why do you copyright all your songs you put on your CD?

There are several reasons, but the main reason to do that is to establish legal ownership for punitive damages.

If you don't have a legal copyright, you can still prove ownership in a courtroom and make someone stop using your song, but you won't be given punitive damages (payment for money you might have made if the song weren't stolen)

Why join ASCAP or BMI?

You have to show up in sales or performance charts somewhere before they will help you, but they are the only ones who pay songwriter royalties for airplay and performances.

Do you perform original music live? If you are a member (and BMI doesn't charge songwriters to join) they will pay a royalty to you for that.

check out bmi.com/live



Unless, like me, you do concerts of your own original worship music in a church. Then you're screwed.

If you think you'll never be successful, wouldn't this money be better spent buying lottery tickets?

I've never bought one so I don't know...but I doubt its comparable.

Can you be successful at anything with that attitude?

No.

In this new age of computers do you really need to register your copyright (since any new material you write is copyrighted wen you right it down), isn't placing your songs on utube or reverbnation or your website, etc...., actually registering your copyright anyhow?

Again, that can prove ownership date but it won't allow you to sue for punitive damages.

Should you just put all your new material out on the web and push it as hard as u can, and hope for the best. Like in my old business, I always figured they would n't steal it unless it was good.

That's a strategy that lots of people use.

I used to say that if someone could steal my music and figure out how to make money on it, I was going to hire them to be my manager. LOL

That's what record labels are for, I guess.

R registering copyrights with the gov't soon to be a thing of the past? Isn't the copyright register fees just a tax? When are u going to stand up to the gov't and say I refuse to pay all these frivolous taxes.

There is a new way now. This is really smart, imo.

https://www.copyrightsworld.com




.

Thanks Yod for the input. I really appreciate it.