Publish songs: How?

Subject: RE: Publish songs: How?
From: Vixen
Date: 01 Oct 99 - 08:19 AM

Dear Barbara--

Yup--that was me you didn't meet. I seem to have spotty luck meeting fellow mudcats. As long as they are settled in someplace for some reason, I can find them. But if we're free roving, we seem to miss each other. I looked for you, and heard you were around asking for me, but we never ended up in the same place at the same time--the same thing happened with Animaterra at Falcon Ridge. Not to worry--we'll meet up, I'm sure!

I'm glad the Copyright info was useful. Hearing your own music performed by others is an incredible experience. Tim's party band, Springwater, performs several of the songs we've written, and Shady Creek is learning a couple of bluegrass-y numbers we wrote this summer. It seems that whatever music I'm listening to a lot of influences my writing. I think that's why my melodies sound so old...the stuff I listen to most is medieval, renaissance, and baroque folk music.

Well, THAT was an early morning ramble...Keep writing!!! I hope we meet up sometime soon. Are you going to the Getaway?

V

Subject: RE: Publish songs: How?
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 01 Oct 99 - 07:41 AM

Thanks Chet. Your posting clarified a lot for me.

I've downloaded the Form PA, and I will register all my songs as an unpublished collection, providing copies of and listing the individual titles. Then I'll just sit back and enjoy the kids playing my song as an instrumental...

Subject: RE: Publish songs: How?
From: Chet W.
Date: 30 Sep 99 - 09:57 PM

Barbara, you can register copyright on the music; The teacher you refer to can register copyright on the arrangement. If anyone uses the music in a different arrangement, they owe royalties to you, but not to the teacher. If they use the teacher's arrangement of your music, they would owe both of you. Collecting the royalties is another matter. Unless you are able to find out on your own that someone used it, you probably won't get paid. Unfortunately, that's what BMI and ASCAP are for, and they take half. As far as marketing your music, as in showing it around to people that might want to use it, you could do that yourself if you have the time, but it's more common to contract with a publishing company to do that for you, but they also take a share. There's generally not a lot of money in writing music, unless somebody has a hit with your stuff. When Elvis was alive, every pro songwriter's dream was to have him record one of their songs, because that would automatically mean a lot of money from album sales, even if their song were not the hit song on the album.

Good luck, Chet

Subject: RE: Publish songs: How?
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 30 Sep 99 - 05:36 PM

Thanks Kat. You must have been typing at the same time I was! The arrangement issue was another thing I was wondering about. I would like to copyright the song and do something with it, so I have a few things to think about. Advice is appreciated.

Subject: RE: Publish songs: How?
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 30 Sep 99 - 05:32 PM

Wow! Six minutes later I get an answer! Aren't you the Vixen I almost met at Pemi? Thanks so much. I'll go look at the site and download the form.

Subject: RE: Publish songs: How?
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Sep 99 - 05:30 PM

Also, at least a few years ago, you could copyright several songs for that price, if you publish them as a portfolio collection or "book", I can't remember the exact term they use. My brother has copyrighted all of his symphonies, piano concertos, songs, etc. and I remember him doing this with his songs, so that it was less expensive.

Another thing to be aware of, while you can copyright your original, the arrangement the teacher is making, could technically be copyrighted by that teacher, rather than you. At least that is my understanding. Of course, you could copyright it as a team, if the teacher wants any credit.

Hope this helps.

kat

Subject: RE: Publish songs: How?
From: Vixen
Date: 30 Sep 99 - 05:24 PM

Dear Barbara--

You need to get to the Form PA (performing arts) off the Copyright website. VicTim has copyrighted about a dozen songs, and the paperwork is simple. I think the fee has gone up to $30, though. We used the short form for our tape, which had 11 songs on it. I don't think you'll need the long form. The whole thing comes as a PDF file, so you will need Acrobat reader to print it. The US Copyright office provides a link to the Adobe website so you can download a free copy of the reader software.

Hope this helps!

V

Subject: RE: Publish songs: How?
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 30 Sep 99 - 05:18 PM

This thread is 2 years old, but I'm interested in finding out more. Can someone point me further into the copyright site so I don't have to read every link? Earl, are you still around? Anyone else?

I'm really excited about a particular song I wrote that the local intermediate school music teacher is arranging for his strings students to perform. What do I need to do besides show up for the performance and cry?

Subject: RE: Publish songs: How?
From: Bert
Date: 18 Sep 97 - 11:58 AM

Gary,

Try to find a local songwriters club. They should provide a lot of positive feedback and maybe some contacts.

Good luck, I hope to hear you on the radio soon.

Bert.

Subject: RE: Publish songs: How?
From: Earl
Date: 18 Sep 97 - 10:46 AM

To protect original songs you can register them with the US government for $20. Click here: Copyright Office for details. Look out for scams that offer to do the same thing for more money.

I don't think the process can ever be made painless but avoid any deal where you pay to have your song published. One place to start is the book "The Songwriter's Market" published annually. It lists publishing and recording companies and what kind of songs they are looking for. I would also be interested in hearing others' experiences selling songs.

Subject: Publish songs: How?
From: Gary in Central MN
Date: 17 Sep 97 - 08:50 PM

I run local Bluegrass Newsletter. Some locals have written great songs & would like to get published and/or recorded. Where can I point them to make process as painless/cheap as possible? They would be interested in varieties of approaches, agents, or whatever...If any of you have done so, let me know email addr..