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-- do you need a music publisher?

Posted by chrisspob on Nov-02-2010 16:50:

do you need a music publisher?

do you guys use a music publisher? im not sure if i need one, but my labels asked a few times now if i have got a publisher yet, and recommended one to me, what are your thoughts ?

i have 3 tracks signed, 1 of which is on a compilation cd and will be on another at the end of year and all my tracks are doin quite well in radio show play etc

Posted by Looney4Clooney on Nov-02-2010 16:53:

I doubt a publisher would take you on with such little work out.If your royalties are in the thousands, then yes you need a publisher.

Posted by chrisspob on Nov-02-2010 16:55:

quote:
Originally posted by Mad for Brad
I doubt a publisher would take you on with such little work out.
ive got a contract to sign now with 23rd precinct music, but im not sure if i need one basically is what they can do for me gonna benefit me i dunno

Posted by Looney4Clooney on Nov-02-2010 16:58:

they chase after your royalties and try to license your music. Unless your sales are in the thousands and you are selling in various countries and formats, they won't really do much for you.

Where are you selling your music ? I'm guessing beatport. A publisher will just take those royalties and take half. Not very useful but people are stupid and they basically get money for doing absolutely nothing.

Also internet play technically should pay royalties, I would say most don't except for huge radio companies or real radio.

Posted by chrisspob on Nov-02-2010 18:06:

quote:
Originally posted by Mad for Brad
they chase after your royalties and try to license your music. Unless your sales are in the thousands and you are selling in various countries and formats, they won't really do much for you.

Where are you selling your music ? I'm guessing beatport. A publisher will just take those royalties and take half. Not very useful but people are stupid and they basically get money for doing absolutely nothing.

Also internet play technically should pay royalties, I would say most don't except for huge radio companies or real radio.
thanks pal, heres some more info if it helps, in the contract they're asking for 30 % in most cases for all the different avenues of royalty income,my music is getting fm play aswell as internet play i can say that my first track has been on over 10 diff mainstream shows which also get played on various fm stations too like kiss etc the tracks been licensed to 2 armada compilations too, also has been played at all the big summer festivals too, going off the feedback so far the second track could quite well too its had its first play on gdjb last week

Posted by Richard Butler on Nov-02-2010 18:07:

I need one about as much as I need a cast for floppy dick syndrome which I never suffer with incidentally, even after 10 beers

Posted by chrisspob on Nov-02-2010 18:09:

so you reckon its not worth it then?

Posted by Looney4Clooney on Nov-02-2010 18:10:

their website does not seem to work. It can be worth it but only if there is money involved. How often are your tracks played on these stations ? Until you really start making money , I wouldn't bother unless your tracks could have mainstream licensing appeal. Maybe do what other big producers are doing. Well at least see what they are doing. WHen you say it is being played, how often would you say ? 3-4 times a day ? Actually to think about it for a second, how do royalties work when they technically aren't playing your track but a dj performance of it. Might want to check that out.I don't really know much about the EDM bidness.

Posted by Zombie0729 on Nov-02-2010 18:51:

quote:
Originally posted by Mad for Brad
their website does not seem to work. It can be worth it but only if there is money involved. How often are your tracks played on these stations ? Until you really start making money , I wouldn't bother unless your tracks could have mainstream licensing appeal. Maybe do what other big producers are doing. Well at least see what they are doing. WHen you say it is being played, how often would you say ? 3-4 times a day ? Actually to think about it for a second, how do royalties work when they technically aren't playing your track but a dj performance of it. Might want to check that out.I don't really know much about the EDM bidness.

somewhat agree w/ this. i have a publisher, and when a certain movie/tv ad/internet ad is looking for something i've already done he just submits it right then & there. i've been paid on about 6 things i would have never found myself and my catalog is only 14 EDM originals, 6 down tempo originals and a few loops of other stuff. All in all i've made a few thousand this year already and I just signed on in April.

There is totally a need for EDM stuff, he said maybe 1 out of ever 7 or 8 want some kind of "electronic influenced song". Can't hurt man but i would look at your contracts before you give it to a publisher, would suck if you only get a small mechnical because the label is taking your publishing

Posted by alexlosy on Nov-02-2010 20:56:

quote:
Originally posted by Mad for Brad
I doubt a publisher would take you on with such little work out.If your royalties are in the thousands, then yes you need a publisher.

Sorry dude - I disagree here.

Not sure what it was last time I checked but the PRS pay something like �25 (30 Euros) for any works per minute if it is on commercially licensed radio.

Also, with the chap who posted this topic, if he is on a CD compilation, then he will get at least some mechanical rights depending on the size of the compilation.

When I started out I engaged a publisher and out of no where I found myself over �400 from Radio 1 play, Kiss FM play, and three compilations I featured on that I was not even aware of! (admittedly the label I signed with were usurped afterwards!)

So, in answer to the original question in this topic, I would 100% suggest engaging a publisher, and in particular, for smaller artists, I strongly suggest you use Jeremy at trancewarez (it is run by the guy behind 'vandall' and Charlie G). Jeremy and Charlie are fantastic and very hard working.

Posted by chrisspob on Nov-03-2010 01:43:

quote:
Originally posted by alexlosy
Sorry dude - I disagree here.

Not sure what it was last time I checked but the PRS pay something like �25 (30 Euros) for any works per minute if it is on commercially licensed radio.

Also, with the chap who posted this topic, if he is on a CD compilation, then he will get at least some mechanical rights depending on the size of the compilation.

When I started out I engaged a publisher and out of no where I found myself over �400 from Radio 1 play, Kiss FM play, and three compilations I featured on that I was not even aware of! (admittedly the label I signed with were usurped afterwards!)

So, in answer to the original question in this topic, I would 100% suggest engaging a publisher, and in particular, for smaller artists, I strongly suggest you use Jeremy at trancewarez (it is run by the guy behind 'vandall' and Charlie G). Jeremy and Charlie are fantastic and very hard working.
if thats true true i need to doit, my tunes have been on over 40 differnt fm stations on numerous occasions, also ive been getting repeat plays by holding the top spots in some dance charts on american stations too i think i will doit but now im not sure this publisher is good or not he was recomended to me by the label im signed too, anyone know any good publishers who dont rip off new artist?

Posted by Zombie0729 on Nov-03-2010 01:53:

quote:
Originally posted by chrisspob
if thats true true i need to doit, my tunes have been on over 40 differnt fm stations on numerous occasions, also ive been getting repeat plays by holding the top spots in some dance charts on american stations too i think i will doit but now im not sure this publisher is good or not he was recomended to me by the label im signed too, anyone know any good publishers who dont rip off new artist?

for radio stuff you don't need someone to collect your royalties but for compilations you might. for radio just register with your countries artist agency (in the states it's ASCAP or BMI). if you find you're not getting your mechanicals from the compilation sales after 90-120 days then you can hire someone to go get them for you and they'll ask for 8-20% depending on how much they're collecting.

Posted by chrisspob on Nov-03-2010 01:55:

thanks for the feedback guys tho i appreaciate it im new to this game and i know theres not much money in it but i want to do what i can to make sure im rewarded for my efforts thats all

Posted by Kismet7 on Nov-03-2010 06:42:

Posted by alexlosy on Nov-03-2010 13:00:

quote:
Originally posted by Zombie0729
for radio stuff you don't need someone to collect your royalties but for compilations you might. for radio just register with your countries artist agency (in the states it's ASCAP or BMI). if you find you're not getting your mechanicals from the compilation sales after 90-120 days then you can hire someone to go get them for you and they'll ask for 8-20% depending on how much they're collecting.

This isn't entirely true for the UK.

Yes you do need to register, but there is also a whacking great big fee of �400 or so which you need to pay to register.

Where a publisher does it, he only needs to do that once for however many artists he is dealing with - it speads the cost and makes it much cheaper small to medium artists to use publishers for radio.

I still strongly suggest you engage a publisher to do the dirty work for you.

Posted by chrisspob on Nov-04-2010 20:15:

i have decided to go with them, ive spoke to them on phone and they've told my a few artist they currently work with, some big names in trance scene to, plus im going to be featured on a compilation cd which is sold in shops next year and i need a publisher to help with stuff like this, thanks for your advice guys

Posted by Looney4Clooney on Nov-04-2010 20:31:

I wasn't aware people bought cds still let alone compilation cds. Interesting. I haven't seen a cd in about 2 years.

Posted by chrisspob on Nov-04-2010 20:57:

quote:
Originally posted by Mad for Brad
I wasn't aware people bought cds still let alone compilation cds. Interesting. I haven't seen a cd in about 2 years.
stuff like gatecrasher, godskitchen trance anthems euphoria etc still get sold in shops and once a year this cd im going to be on comes out but i cant say at mo :P

Posted by Looney4Clooney on Nov-04-2010 22:21:

I just thought EDM cd sales where the first to be hit due to all the people listening to it being big computer nerds> I suppose in europe. all the dumb juice heads that can't figure out how to download will buy it for their cars.

Posted by chrisspob on Nov-04-2010 22:29:

quote:
Originally posted by Mad for Brad
I just thought EDM cd sales where the first to be hit due to all the people listening to it being big computer nerds> I suppose in europe. all the dumb juice heads that can't figure out how to download will buy it for their cars.
lol think your spot on there!

Posted by G-Con on Nov-05-2010 09:55:

Posted by Looney4Clooney on Nov-06-2010 02:28:

Where do you play the cd ? If someone gave me a cd, I honestly would not know what to do with it. Not that I would ever buy music. The industry discount is my rational.