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STRATEGY FOR THE DAY: Check your watch.

This interesting question and nice compliments from Johnny Bollow who took my business of songwriting workshop at Pasadena City College last May...

"Your thoughtful insights into the world of publishing were fantastic. I especially appreciated how practical and encouraging your ideas were. Thanks, too, for listening to two of my songs after the class. I have just joined Taxi and hope to be shopping them to labels very soon.

Two years ago, I started my own publishing "company" organized with BMI (Fifty Caliber Music). I have registered my songs on their site and have released my first CD -- already sold over a hundred in fact. But I had a question about the songwriting demos that I am sending out to publishers and others. Do I need to write on the packaging that my songs were already published on my CD, BMI, etc., or is my copyright sufficient? I think my publishing imprint could scare a potential deal away. I was thinking about just writing: "All selections available for publishing. Some selections may have been optioned by Fifty Caliber Music (BMI)" What are your thoughts?"

My answer...

The question you ask regarding info to put on your submissions to publishers and labels is a good one. The copyright notice will be sufficient (Copyright 2006 John Bollow). It's important to let publishers and record labels know that you control the rights in the songs and are free to make a deal. If you list "Fifty Caliber Music" as the publisher, they may not realize it's your own company and they could think the rights are already tied up. BMI doesn't enter into the equation. You can change the publisher info at BMI if you make a deal.

While we're on the subject of label info:
1) At Taxi, you'll see listings from Music Libraries, Music Supervisors, etc., that say "You must control the publishing and master rights to your song." They want to know that they can license both the song and the recording from you. Therefore, it's a good idea these days to include that info on your label when submitting to Music Libraries, Music Supervisors, and Film & TV projects: "Publishing and Master Rights controlled by John Bollow." If you make an exclusive publishing deal with someone, then you will need to change that info.

2) Always be sure to put your contact info on EVERYTHING - CD label, packaging, lyrics, everything! I still have to remind myself to do it or I forget. Try making a generic label with that info on it. Then you can plug in the song titles you are submitting. If you are submitting your entire album, then put a sticker on the CD with the relevant info.

A number of music libraries are now offering non-exclusive publishing deals. You retain 100% of your copyright and grant them the right to collect royalties only for the placements they may make themselves. You'll see some of these in the Taxi listings. I think this is a very interesting development. Check with an attorney before you sign one of these to make sure you are only granting a license to collect royalties on specific placements, not copyright control.

If you're looking for a place to submit your songs right away, check out Luke Eddins' web site: http://www.lukehits.com . You can get a really good feel for how Music Libraries operate by thoroughly checking out his web site and reading his submission guidelines.

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Read A Brief History Of Love Songs by Robin Frederick at the Sound Experience Music web site.

Copyright 2006 Robin Frederick. All rights reserved.