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Post new topic Music selling, Publishing and Royalties Advice.
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Author Topic:  Music selling, Publishing and Royalties Advice.
Stefan Robertson


From:
Hertfordshire, UK
Post  Posted 18 Dec 2017 5:31 am    
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Hey Guys

With regards to Music selling and publishing: interested especially to hear from Mike Neer and Steve Cunningham among others, Jim Cohen etc.

I'm looking to record and release a Steel Jazz music album and need advice on it.

1. What services do you recommend for selling? e.g.. Apple Music, Spotify, CD Baby
2. How is it done with least hassle for international release?
3. What are the best a services that handle, royalties and publishing all in one etc.
4. If I release a has 10 songs and 7/8 out of 10 are jazz standards how does that affect my sales payments. Example - would I only make money on the originals.

I'm interested to know as so many artists in the Jazz vein release standards based albums does that mean they don't make anything off of their albums??

Looking forward to the useful info and feedback.
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Stefan
Bill Hatcher custom 12 string Lap Steel Guitar
E13#9/F secrets: https://thelapsteelguitarist.wordpress.com

"Give it up for The Lap Steel Guitarist"
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Mike Neer


From:
NJ
Post  Posted 18 Dec 2017 6:11 am    
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In order to get your music on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, etc., you'll need an aggregator such as CD Baby.

As far as licensing rights for cover songs, you need to purchase the rights for physical CDs and digital diownloads separately. You can go through Harry Fox Agency, but I use Easy Song Licensing. They are quick and I think a little cheaper. You purchase rights according to estimates of unit sales.

Your payment will not be affected by the number of cover songs--however, you are already out of pocket for the rights.

For publishing, you can start your own publishing company. This article explains it pretty well: https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/how_to_start_your_own_music_publishing_company
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Stefan Robertson


From:
Hertfordshire, UK
Post  Posted 18 Dec 2017 7:45 am    
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Thanks for the reply Mike. CD Baby looks good indeed.
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Stefan
Bill Hatcher custom 12 string Lap Steel Guitar
E13#9/F secrets: https://thelapsteelguitarist.wordpress.com

"Give it up for The Lap Steel Guitarist"
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ajm

 

From:
Los Angeles
Post  Posted 18 Dec 2017 8:27 am    
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Licensing, etc: What Mike Neer said.

When I started my web site a few years ago I have since added 3-4 cover tunes.
I tried to go through Harry Fox, but they did not have the capability to license them all. Easy Song Licensing did. So, ESL it is.

And by the way, when you license a song you do so based upon the estimated number of sales or whatever, NOT on a time frame basis. You don't need to renew the license every year.
In other words, if you license a song for say 100 "copies", and you only sell 50 the first year, you don't need to renew the license after one year. You only need to renew it when you sell a total of all 100 copies.
I hope that made sense.
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