andreya

Thanks!! I was hoping for some examples of how the $$$ is/was distributed in bands you guys have played in! I've heard of this system from a friend: half the money to whoever of the band members that got the gig, and the rest gets split among the band members (the band is doing covers). The songwriter would have to be registered then to get money from the organization... Any other examples/ideas? Happy New Year everyone!!

You might want to read this article: http://www.writerswrite.com/journal/may00/dawson10.htm There are others in the series I found very helpful too!! Some people over at musesmuse forum recommend humming over the lyrics too...

Thanks!! You've been really helpful!! My country is so small that one practically cannot talk of 'tours' as such, but 'promotional concerts' or the like. Unless you go across borders... The thing is I've got a bunch of lyrics but haven't co-operated with a band before, so we'll see how it goes!! Keep fingers crossed!!

Ooh, apparently! Good point. So, cca. 10% of revenues gets distributed to all authors of songs. If 1 of 50 is from Bowie, he gets 1/50th of the revenues, via the site. Am I getting this right now? So even if they have an overall loss they have to pay? No wonder they don't like it. What do you mean, 'the likeness that you won't play again'?? OoOO How likely is that? If the band is good or you get a radio hit surely the tiny 10% won't matter-? But if the music is not very commercial or attracts few people to the venue initially it might be better to wait - ? (Is there a difference regarding this if you perform with the band or if they perform your songs alone? Probably not, for the organiser?) What if you are not sure? I love the idea of %, but preventing a band from concerts doesn't sound fun either. Is there another way to at least formally protect the copyright initially? So it depends on the songs, not the people performing. Theoretically you could agree to play some songs that aren't 'on the list'. Okay... By 'tour' you mean 'perform'-? (The word conjures up images of European capitols or America.) Do you mean admission into the organisation, or the time that passes before you receive the money? Thank you so much!! It is all becoming much clearer! (slowly) Merci!

Wow!! I never thought of this that way!! Do you mean from net profit or from what the organiser pays to the band? Is that the case in a completely independent production too or just 'real' companies? (I suppose it depends if you fill in the form or not.) Does this make it much harder to get gigs? Is it still worth it for you, financially? (and with regard to all the hassle?) Probably depends to how many songs get radio play etc. Are you obliged to fill in forms for every gig?? (From what I read at our organisation's site, I'd say yes. Even charity concerts need a special form to be filled out.) Isn't that a bit, well, annoying? What would happen if you just, well, didn't report? Do some people just do that and hope they're not found out? Could you - theoretically speaking - play other songs than those 'in safekeeping' with the organisation without mentioning it to them? Not sure what an OMD is - internet promotion site? I suppose you can terminate the agreement if you get a really big offer then-? Must read that section again. There are 3 organisations collecting money from e.g. pubs etc. in our country. (And the pubs are currently in uproar.) One is ipf - publishers and performers mainly, one is 'authors and publishers', and I'm not quite sure what the last one is for. Yeah, I know!! When would it become profitable to become a member? When a CD targeted at radio play is made? If the composer/arranger is in the organisation, and reports a song to it, will the organisation give money to the lyricist too? (Do you have to be a member or will they collect money for you otherwise too?) (I guess some more reading of the statute will be required...) Thanks for the really helpful answers!! (& for bearing with me!!)

Yeah, I've been looking into the local organisation's documents and some other things online. Apparently you get a better bargaining position after you've gotten famous or so. And/or if you are a founding member. I understand about the split. Just wasn't sure how it applied in this particular case. But I guess going indie is no different than going with a record company or something. Is that right? So, if I understand correctly, through the organisation cca. 10% of revenues of a gig/CD-sale go to *all* songwriters, this is divided by number of songs, and then further according to music:lyrics. (Is it 33:33:33 if there's also arrangement separately?) Maybe I'm a bit concerned with things like the number of CDs sold at concerts etc. This could be a muddy area if someone decided not to play fair, no? Can there be a negative side to being a member of such an organisation? (Some restrictions are imposed on members that I'm not sure about...) Are you all members? (These organisations are quite new in my country and I'm still a bit puzled with it all...) Thank you for your answers!!

Thanks!! I'l go and look at the links but it's all a bit mindboggling at the moment!! Okay, I've been asked to join a band where the 'boss' is a talented composer/musician (pianist). They need a lyricist, if I write the music too that's a bonus (sometimes I do). He does the arrangement mostly. I could also sing. There are already several singers (3 so far, one also plays the flute), a drummer I think, the guitarist is new, I'm not sure about the rest. The plan is to do the CDs indie, without a publisher. I'm guessing concerts etc. too, and ultimately they want to be on MTV (Ambitious is good, right?) So what's the deal if I just write the lyrics, or lyrics+music, or also sing the lead or a part of the song, or only do backups? The band is pretty new, and has undergone some structural changes, heading for a new music direction etc. We're talking about establishing ground rules, I'd just like to know what is considered *fair* so that everyone is pretty much content. (Me included.)

If a band is to operate on 'split profits', what's the norm? For example, what percentage will usually go to the songwriter/s (lyrics+music together or separately), singer/s, musicians...? Divide it with the number of people involved, or functions performed, or what? What if one person does several things, do you just add up the percentage? Also, is it best to register the song with an organisation first or when it's 'properly' recorded in its final form? I apologize if this is the wrong place to post this, or if the question has been answered previously (couldn't find it). I'll appreciate a link or a pointer then. Thanks!!