Hello All -

Sorry if this is a bit off-topic, but it does involve an arranger.

I am an accordionist who wants to put together a CD of standards using a Ketron XD3 and my reedless accordion. Songs like Misty, More, Fascintation, Tarantella, Volare, etc.

If I try to sell this CD at gigs or maybe even online, do I need to go through that whole copyright royalties process? I have seen a lot of CDs for sale online and there's no way these people went through all the red tape.

Thanks.

The Accordionist

Well, I'm working on my 66th cd all copywritten. It really is not alot of hassle at all (used to be) anyway, you get the fed. copyright form (it's a short form) fill it in send it with a copy of the cd and your $ and you get a copyright back in the mail in about 6 weeks. What they also allow for are "collected works" so I can send a dozen (or any amount) of cds under a "the collected works volume (whatever)" and get them all under the same copyright for one fee. Here's the link to the feds: http://www.copyright.gov/register/sound.html

the second way is the "poor man's copyright" you put a copy of the cd in an envelope seal it, then trot on down to your local post office. Do a return receit requested form and go to the counter. Tell the guy you're doing a poor man's copyright. The postal guys know all about this approach. They stamp it and the return receit with a date and give it all back to you as though it had been delivered to your mail box. You take that home and stick it all in a drawer and DO NOT EVER OPEN THE ENVELOPE WITH THE CD IN IT! If you have to sue someone over it, you show up in court and it is then opened and becomes a matter of court records. This works pretty much as well as the fed one does.

Chances are unless you come up with some really innovative brilliant salable stuff you'll probably never have to worry about someone stealing it though.

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jam on,
Terry http://imjazzed.homestead.com/Index.html

[This message has been edited by trtjazz (edited 02-18-2003).]

TRTJAZZ -

I'm confused. I think you are talking about writing your own stuff and then protecting it in case anybody ever hears you performing it and steals it.

I'm talking about using somebody else's song, e.g. Everybody Loves Somebody, doing my own rendition of it and putting on a CD to sell. I believed there were copyright laws and you have to pay royalties to whoever is the rightful owner/author of the song. I'm worried about doing a CD of 15 cover songs and then getting burned by copyright fees.

Thanks.

Yep, you will owe a "mechanical" on every single track that you sell. The fact that the amounts may be too small for the copywrite owners to bother chasing you down does not change the fact that they own the music and you owe them the royalty.

You're right....sorry didn't read your message carefully enough re: doing covers....anyway there's some copyright info for those who want it.

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jam on,
Terry http://imjazzed.homestead.com/Index.html

[This message has been edited by trtjazz (edited 02-18-2003).]

Hi:

I have produced several "copy" albums and I have the info you need. First, your best reference for all things related to paying royalties is the Harry Fox Agency, and their FAQ page is here:
http://www.nmpa.org/hfa/hfafaq.html

The statuatory rate currently is 8 cents per five minute song per copy. You cannot license less than 500 copies. You can do the math but if you do a copy album of ten songs then you will have to pay 80 cents per album or $400.00 per 500 albums.

The way you pay royalties is easy: go to http://www.songfile.com/. This is where you should go first and look up the songs that you want to record to see if they are available for mechanical licensing through HFA - not all are. If the song you want is not available for licensing through HFA, either you cannot record it or you'll have to work out a special deal with the individual song's publisher. If licensing is available for the song through HFA, you fill out a form for each song and pay your fees all on-line. Be sure to make note of the publisher and the song author(s) because the credit information has to be printed on your album cover. You will get a license certificate in the mail.

I know you didn't ask this but just FYI: you can copyright a cover album, or more specifically you can copyright your actual recording, arrangements and production. The website for info and forms is:
http://www.loc.gov/copyright/