john

Yes, perfectly possible. Lacking a publisher at the moment it is up to you how you license the songs to them and what permissions you give them or don't give them. For example, how long are they licensed to use the songs? Where are they licensed to use the songs? In essence they get their license and any monies from either performance or from record sales or other income streams, you should get the songwriter's share and the publisher's share (as you are effectively self publishing), while they get a performer's share. There are standard percentages. I would imagine you would license them to release the songs, not merely make a demo (as that is very limited considering they are likely to pay for recording). The point is the good news is it's not uncommon for a writer to license a band to do a recording. If you limit it to just a demo they may well choose to record their own song.... you have to make it appealing to them, and fair)

Hi and welcome to Songstuff

Hi and welcome to Songstuff Tanya

Thanks Just1l

It takes a certain amount of effort to get to a point where the theory you have learnt is really useful. Certainly the biggest benefit is in communicating with other musicians, and if you ever do any session work, or want to use session musicians, having an understanding of even the rudiments of music theory are an advantage. Depending on your emphasis as a musician, it makes a diffference as to which bit of theory you will use most. For example, understanding chord progressions, melody construction and the basics of rhythm are a definite help to a songwriter or composer. Understanding scales, chord theory and rhythm are a definite advantage to a guitarist, a broad range of understanding is essential for music arrangement, the abililty to read music is advantageous to session musicians. Understanding theory not only helps you with your own music and performance, but it is very helpful in understanding the music of others. True, much can be accomplished without learning to read or write music, but anything that adds know how cannot be described as a limitation. After all, ignorance is the true limitation as it removes choice. What people mean is it's hard to get your head into, it takes effort I would rather spend playing my guitar, and music theory isn't fun. Fundamentally those who slam theory are generally speaking from a position of lack of understanding, a position of "can't be assed" or a position of the ill informed. Sad but true. It's up to the individual, and I see little point in bullying people one way or another. Not knowing is a disadvantage no matter how you paint it, but it's up to the individual if they want to invest time in learning. For me, it was time well spent.

hey Mike, thanks for your good wishes. I'm still waiting on this whole wiseness thing to kick in....

Thanks Layne

As you are in the UK, your music is automatically copyrighted. I would still recommend registering your copyright with the US copyright office in case you ever have to defend that copyright in the US (it is the biggest, single copyright zone, so well worth doing especially if the result will be on the internet. If money is an issue, you don't absolutely need to register right away but it is advised that you do it soon (I have a funny feeling it has to be within a set period (18 months springs to my mind, but I am not sure off the top of my head) . Posting files may help in the UK in terms of establishing copyright, but in the US to qualify I believe a transaction needs to occur to qualify as published, and to be defensible in the US courts it really HAS to be registered. Fee wise, certainly no fee is not uncommon, though a stipulation of accreditation for the music as part of the video and in any accreditation when the video is posted anywhere would certainly be expected... Why not sound them out on a nominal fee of $35 (the cost of copyright registration), plus recommending that they also register the video with the US copyright office? Fees really come down to a balancing act between how much they want your song, versus how much you want your music to be used. If it's not a commercial video release (which a show reel isn't) then perhaps a nominal fee is the better idea. You don't need to register a copyright for every single derived edit of your song, only if it is what would be understood to be a separate work. Copyright permission wise, you need to set the permissions for use. ie what zones, how long, and what exact permissions (worldwide or not, exclusive or not, derived works, distribution, redistribution, revokable or not, assignable or not etc). Incidently, you can stipulate that if the video is ever used or distributed commercially (ie money is received by them for use of the video in any form) then you would be due a percentage of any monies received. That way if they are ever paid, so are you, while at the same time they are not being charged a huge fixed cost while at the same time having no income from the video. In your contract you can also make your fee contingent on them performing certain promotion tasks. You might want, for example, to encourage them to do something with the video (post on YouTube or vimeo, promotion posts, a press release etc). You might also want to stipulate that YOU can use the resulting work in promotion of your music, with a set of complimentary permissions set by them. For example, that you can use the work and create derived works (ie edit) without cost, worldwide,irrevocable etc.