Number One Song For A Hundred Years

Gary Harris · Post by **Gary Harris** » 25 Mar 2003 6:43 pm

Two school teachers from Kentucky were awarded the copyright to the most well-known song in the English-speaking world. That song is "Happy Birthday To You". Today that song generates about two million dollars a year in royalties. No other song writer comes close to the success that these gals have had and I suspect that none ever will. Taken from Urban Legends Reference Pages.

Ken Lang · Post by **Ken Lang** » 25 Mar 2003 9:08 pm

And they didn't write or ever record it. They simply noted it had never been copyrighted, so they did it.

That is totally wrong, in my opinion. The song should have been in public domain.

Royalties are paid for...airplay and performances, mechanicals (records) and sheet music.

How often has anybody heard it on the radio, bought a recording of it or bought the sheet music.

I would question the 2 mill figure, tho I could be wrong.

Still, maybe those two teachers taught us all a lesson.

Dave Boothroyd · Post by **Dave Boothroyd** » 26 Mar 2003 12:48 am

Are you sure?
Wouldn't they have to prove that nobody sang that song before they copyrighted it?
I was under the impression that the author was pretty well known.
Cheers
Dave

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 26 Mar 2003 4:42 am

Ok..take a chill pill. This was easy to research..it took about 1 minute.

The two systers, the HILL sisters, were born in Kentucky in 1868. They were school teachers and wrote the song for class parties to celebrate childrens birthdays..Duhh...They did write the song. I'm pretty certain their dead now, but I could be wrong. The song was copyrighted in their names in 1936 or so by family members. A family relative, Jessica Hill has re-copyrighted the song which is scheduled to run out , with extensions, in 2030.

It's in the family, where it belongs.It's legitimate.

I wish I wrote it and the only problem I really have with this song is that my family has sang it to me way to many times !

tp

Eric Myers · Post by **Eric Myers** » 26 Mar 2003 6:25 am

Speaking of copyrights, are presidential speeches copyrighted or public domain? I use snippets of some in a recording I am uh recording. Sorry for the OT - Eric

Don Walters · Post by **Don Walters** » 26 Mar 2003 6:42 am

..the only problem I really have with this song is that my family has sang it to me way to many times..

beats the alternative

Ken Lang · Post by **Ken Lang** » 27 Mar 2003 6:58 pm

Tony:
Thanks for clearing that up. Let's see......In 2030 I'll be.....hmmm....3 years beyond the date I plan to retire and 20 years beyond when I could have.

The only question is can I still grab a G chord by then.

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 28 Mar 2003 11:48 am

I have to admit I've sung it many times. Where do I mail the check?

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HagFan

John Kavanagh · Post by **John Kavanagh** » 31 Mar 2003 6:06 am

I think the original version the sisters wrote was "Good Morning to You". When people started to substitute "Happy Birthday" in the lyrics is another question, and probably doesn't affect their copyright.

Leroy Riggs · Post by **Leroy Riggs** » 1 Apr 2003 6:31 pm

Several years ago, I read in an editorial of a music industry mag called "Flat E" that the royalty for "Happy Birthday" is $500 each time it is sung or played on TV or radio. I suspect it is true but don't know for sure.

Lem Smith · Post by **Lem Smith** » 1 Apr 2003 9:24 pm

Wow, $500.00 per performance seems a might bit steep to me!

Just curious...what would make this particular song cost that much per time?

Lem

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 2 Apr 2003 2:56 am

The rate is $40 which allows you to play it or sing it ( the exact same one ) on TV 500 times. ( I guess that means re-runs )This is the same for a mechanical license which allows you to distribute 500 copies with the cost of $40. This applys to a single one time recording, the same one.

500 instances is the minimum .

This is a typical rate for a copyrighted song.

So if you plan to make an album and Happy Birthday is one of the songs on the album, fork over $40 for each 500 sales units you distribute. It's $40 per song per 500 units.

Oh yes..the biggie. licensing is required for distribution, which means, give, send sell, trade..whatever..

happy pressing !

tp[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 02 April 2003 at 06:31 AM.]

Ray Jenkins · Post by **Ray Jenkins** » 2 Apr 2003 6:29 am

The only question is can I still grab a G chord by then.

Ken I hope in 2030 your still able to grab a "G String"

Ray

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