Ok, let self-producers start using this technique. I´ve assumed that the extra dollar is no harm to the consumer, and will pass inadvertently . The sum of all those extra dollars (or possibly less) will account for MUCH MORE than the total sales of sheet music. Now, how should it be distributed when a publisher exists ?
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm making these assumptions:
1) When a producer releases a CD to the market, the author, interpreter and publisher get formally paid, in percentages I ignore, but it seems to be pretty well settled. Then why not offering the same percentage of that dollar to the publishers while their contracts remain valid ? Once their contracts expire, that's another story, with this technique or any other.
2) Full score for a very simple folk song will be appreciated even by those who are not music readers, because the chords will be included, the lyrics too, and there will always be a friend to ask advice if needed.(For the very novice, even the images of fingers and frets could be included )
3) The buyer already knows that he's paying royalties when he buys a CD. Someone will possibly complain if s/he realizes that there's an extra dollar (or some cents) but I don't believe that sales will suffer.
4) Yes, me and the people I talked to, are music readers, some are composers and some arrangers. As consumers,we'll surely be happy to find the score in a CD, I'd bet that we would duplicate our purchases. As authors, could see a significant growth in the difussion of works.(And get PAID!)
5) Everybody has access to a PC, at home, or at work, friends or school. In one minute it is printed out and in our hands. 6) Yes, possibly classics will get the highest benefit, going from zero to any reasonable difussion.
If this comes to something useful, your account is now three pints indebted. If not, I'll pay.
Un abrazo - Andrés