Music Publishing: The easiest way

Subject: Music Publishing: The easiest way.......
From: chessell
Date: 20 Mar 01 - 02:41 PM

Hi everyone. I am asking your help but once again. I have written a few songs and want to get them copyrighted. I posted about this before and I was given a link to the music registration office of the US. But I was wondering..Would it be easier for me (and a hell of alot cheaper) to just start my own publishing company? Or should I send my songs to other publishers and try to get them to publish it? If it would be best for me to start my own company, does anyone have any info on going about that in Canada? Hope someone can help... Please post or email [e-mail] Cheers, Paddy.

Subject: RE: Music Publishing: The easiest way.......
From: MMario
Date: 20 Mar 01 - 02:51 PM

I doubt very much you could (legally) start a company for what it would cost to copyright your songs. And the company would still have to pay the fees in order to copyright the music.

Subject: RE: Music Publishing: The easiest way.......
From: black walnut
Date: 20 Mar 01 - 03:00 PM

I'm sort of in the same (Canadian) boat. I think what I'm figuring out is that it's yours if you've recorded it. Any chance you can sing them onto a CD and sell a few?

~black walnut (who is pleased to be corrected if in error)

Subject: RE: Music Publishing: The easiest way.......
From: MMario
Date: 20 Mar 01 - 03:27 PM

I don't know what the legal statutes are in Canada

- with the latest changes in the US the songs are technically copyrighted as soon as written - but burden of proof is on you if you haven't register. On the other hand - it means the old "poor man's" copyright of sending a score with your name and date on it to yourself in a sealed envelope has a much better chance of standing up in court then it ever used to have.

Subject: RE: Music Publishing: The easiest way.......
From: Jim the Bart
Date: 20 Mar 01 - 05:41 PM

The Library of Congress web site is the easiest and cheapest way to go. You can print out the forms you need right there, using Adobe Acrobat.

The cheapest way is to put your songs on tape, give it a name ("Spring Songs - 2001", or something like that) and copyright it as a collection. List all the individual songs as part of the collection on the copyright form and pay $20 for the whole bunch.

Publishing and copyrighting are not the same thing.

Subject: RE: Music Publishing: The easiest way.......
From: chessell
Date: 20 Mar 01 - 08:07 PM

Ah, thanks very much. Is that $20 American......