Re: 500 copies rule for copyrighted song use

hank alrich16/1/06 4:24 AM

> Chris Rockcliffe wrote:

> I don't know about MCPS, but HFA is a legit operation and if monies are
> collected on behalf of an author and publisher they are properly paid to
> same. This is one reason they have that 500 unit minimum: below that
> nobody makes money. I have direct experience of this, as I have a small
> music publishing company

I'm sure some of them are. I doubt they all are. One of the problems is
that Publishers over here anyway - are reluctant to get involved with any of
the little guys in the first place and fees for joining the organisations
are deliberatively prohibitive unless you are a professional, have made
several albums, or got a recording contract; got a publisher; bla bla bla.

I'll add that we have a project on-going here with a double disc - about
half are covers and we'll do it by the book just as RMMGA has.

So that money (collected under the rule of law remember) gets distributed
often to others - the wrong folks because they haven't got it sorted to give
it to the right ones.

I've heard and read comments from several long standing-music professionals
about the transactions and business procedures of music rights
organisations. It does not make good reading. Recent rulings and
legislation by the Monopolies Commission have improved things for the
smaller fish and for minority music genres - such as jazz, folk etc. but
there is a long way to go.

Broadcasting here is different - and quite well organised for payment via
PPL/PRS. Ironically, the rights here also include performance rights of all
kinds and I'm not sure it is the same in the US. That rights industry alone
collects 250K - what - half a billion dollars?

I rather admire those artistes who sidestep a lot of it and oversee the
production, manufacture and sell their own albums at concerts and over the
Internet. If you like what you hear you buy.

One act we had in concert here last year told us they could not sell one of
their two albums to our punters. I was a bit incredulous... it being tied
up in an exclusive distribution deal with a record shop chain. They had
copies of the album but couldn't sell them to us. When I pointed out that
the chain did not have a store anywhere within 40 miles of us, they decided
to sell a few... They sold 12 or so - about 250 USD worth on the night !

CR

.

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