How to form own publishing company?

Subject: RE: How to form own publishing company?
From: hesperis
Date: 08 Jun 01 - 11:44 PM

Thank you!

Subject: RE: How to form own publishing company?
From: Margo
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 11:30 AM

I have a publishing company that I formed for just that reason. I am in the state of Washington, and I registered my business name with the state. Now no one else (in the state of WA) can use that name. The fee is nominal, but I think it is worth it.

Yes, hesperis, DBA means "Doing Business As". If I have a business like a restaurant and called it Margo's Cafe, I would not need to register that name because it's mine. But if I wanted to call it Planet Food (or some such rediculous name) I'd have to register the name. (It would be officially Margo doing business as Planet Food) I think it is pretty much the same in all of the US but it can certainly vary from state to state.

In Canada, I have no clue, but I would suggest contacting the agency that registers business names and I'll bet they'll help,

Margo

Subject: RE: How to form own publishing company?
From: hesperis
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 09:58 AM

"First, name your publishing company and fill out a fictitious business name statement or a DBA ("doing business as") form with your county."

Um, does this apply to Canada? I know it used to, but the people I spoke with at Legal Aid hadn't a clue, and told me that I would have to register a business name for $60-80 before being able to get paid using that name. Is that the same thing as a DBA?

Subject: RE: How to form own publishing company?
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 06 Jun 01 - 03:49 PM

Thanks so much for pointing out this article! It answered many of my questions. Since this is an on-line source, I'm assuming I can direct folks to the link, which I found right in the article in the June 2001 issue of "Electronic Musician" magazine:
Electronic Musician: Publish or Perish

Subject: RE: How to form own publishing company?
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 06 Jun 01 - 01:41 PM

Barbara, check your PMs. And Good Luck with the publishing~

Lin (really)

Subject: RE: How to form own publishing company?
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 06 Jun 01 - 11:59 AM

I have WORD. [e-mail]. Thanks!

Subject: RE: How to form own publishing company?
From: Fortunato
Date: 06 Jun 01 - 09:48 AM

John, I have Word and I would love to have a copy.
You can email me at [e-mail]

Thanks in advance. Chance

Subject: RE: How to form own publishing company?
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 06 Jun 01 - 08:54 AM

John In Remote Kansas (JIRK) on LIK's cookie.

Barbara Shaw
Perhaps I could email a "fair use" extract.
Do you have Word, or do you need it in text?

Subject: RE: How to form own publishing company?
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 06 Jun 01 - 07:45 AM

I'm still interested and haven't really gotten an answer yet.

I've seen very lengthy postings on Mudcat, so my vote is to post it here, but would that present a copyright problem???

Subject: RE: How to form own publishing company?
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 06 Jun 01 - 05:35 AM

John In Remote Kansas (JIRK) on LIK's cookie.

This may be a little late to help, but someone else may be interested.
I just came across what looks like a fairly down-to-brass-nuts outline of (one person's
view of) music publishing, in the June 2001 issue of "Electronic Musician" magazine.
Briefly looks at advantages and disadvantages of connecting with an existing publisher
vs DIY.
Includes an outline of what you should do to self publish
Lists contact agencies, and some suggested readings.
The article is only about 3 pages after I scanned it through my OCR into Word,
but would be a little long to post here.
Will watch for continued interest?

Subject: RE: How to form own publishing company?
From: MMario
Date: 31 May 01 - 03:43 PM

if you are NOT a member then people who want to record have to deal WITH YOU!

Subject: RE: How to form own publishing company?
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 31 May 01 - 03:32 PM

This is of course assuming that bands will be fighting over my songs . . . And it's assuming that we'll ever get the master done!

Thanks, guys, for the info. I'm still not clear on what is meant by forming my own publishing company, the idea of which has appeal.

Subject: RE: How to form own publishing company?
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 31 May 01 - 03:26 PM

If someone else decides to record one of my songs, wouldn't I need to have a publishing company registered with BMI or ASCAP or someone to get royalties for it? Or would I just need to be a member of BMI, etc to get the royalties for songwriter and publisher?

Subject: RE: How to form own publishing company?
From: Jim Krause
Date: 31 May 01 - 03:24 PM

Getting yourself listed as a BMI songwriter & music publisher is a simple matter. All you need is a CD with your songs on it, send it to your local folk music programming (public) radio station, and have them program it. You might be able to do a short interview with the show's producer/host while he/she plays selections on the air. If you do that, you're in. All BMI wants to know is whether one of your songs has had air play. Once is good enough for them.
Jim

Subject: RE: How to form own publishing company?
From: MMario
Date: 31 May 01 - 12:27 PM

To self- publish you produce your master and have it duplicated by one of the services that do that. You do the advertising and promotion.

if you form your own company - you probably do the same thing.

The difference is that if you incorperate as a company - the company is a seperate legal entity - while if you don't and are just (for Example) Barbara Shaw DBA (doing business as) Molting Eagle Records - it can have definate tax benefits (like not getting taxed twice on the same income)

Subject: RE: How to form own publishing company?
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 31 May 01 - 12:17 PM

How do you self-publish? Wouldn't that be the same as having your own publishing "company"?

Subject: RE: How to form own publishing company?
From: MMario
Date: 31 May 01 - 12:12 PM

if you self-publish (and you don't have to form a seperate company in order to do that) you have control of your copyright and of your royalties...yes?

Subject: How to form own publishing company?
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 31 May 01 - 12:06 PM

I've written a bunch of songs and copyrighted them with the U.S. Copyright Office. Our band has recorded a few and plans to do more of them soon. I'm told that any royalties for recordings are split between the copyright holder and the publisher. I'm also told that it's a good idea to form your own publishing company for your own songs, in order to get all the royalties.

I've been doing some reading on the BMI site: BMI
the Harry Fox Agency site: Harry Fox Agency
and a company that will produce the CD's: Discmakers.

None of them (that I can find, through ALL the verbiage) tell me how to create my own publishing company. Any advice on how to go about it? Is it worth doing?