License your music (and generate revenue)
Excerpted from our latest guide, this post gives an overview of what music licensing is and lays out five things you can do to boost your chances to license your music. Read the post.
song publishing
What can you learn from Taylor Swift’s master rights predicament?
Taylor Swift’s latest industry tussle raises lots of questions for music artists. Who’s right, who’s wrong, and most importantly, what can you learn so you can avoid having to fight for your master rights? Read the post.
Collect everything your recorded music can earn: Pt. II
Music revenue streams that were once only available to the traditional music industry are now available to independent musicians if you know how to collect them. Read the post.
Collect everything your recorded music can earn: Pt. I
Music revenue streams that were once only available to the traditional music industry are now available to independent musicians — if you know how to collect them. Read the post.
Maximize your royalties by submitting cue sheets
Music licensing for film, TV, movie trailers, video, and advertising generates lucrative sync licenses and even boosts your performance royalties — but only if you submit cue sheets. Read the post.
Should I copyright my song?
Per the Copyright Act of 1976, as soon as your song is in a fixed form, you own the copyright. So usually what people are talking about is registering the copyright when they ask, “Should I copyright my song?” Read the post.
A look at the Music Modernization Act
Music creatives of all types, along with the entire digital music ecosystem, celebrated the signing of the Hatch-Goodlatte Music Modernization Act into law on October 11, 2018. Read the post.
Don’t miss out on SoundExchange royalties
SoundExchange has paid out more than $5 billion to its more than 155,000 members since its founding in 2000. Do you have SoundExchange royalties waiting for you? Read the post.
3 steps to get your songs in music libraries
For indie musicians and songwriters who don’t yet have connections in publishing and licensing, music libraries are one way you can seek music licensing opportunities. Read the post.
5 things you should do before you seek a music licensing deal
These five steps might not be fun or glamorous, but they’re necessary if you’re serious about seeking a music licensing deal. Read More.
How cue sheets help you get paid for TV and film placements
A cue sheet is a written synopsis of the music used in a production and is one way to ensure all the stakeholders in a song are compensated adequately. Read More.
Copyright termination: McCartney, Duran Duran, and the YMCA.
Copyright termination is giving music artists the opportunity to reclaim the rights to their songs. The stories of Duran Duran, Paul McCartney and The Village People’s Victor Willis tell the tale. Read More.
How to split the music publishing pie
Working with partners when songwriting is inherently collaborative and is often how great songs get written. Plus – for musicians, songwriters, and producers – the music creation process is usually the most enjoyable. But how do you split up the music publishing pie when it comes down to business? Read more.
Music Industry News: BMI Royalty Record, ASCAP Fights Pandora, Steve Albini’s Fax
Performance rights organization BMI reports new records for royalty distributions and revenue for the fiscal year. ASCAP is taking a firm stand against Pandora Internet Radio, claiming that “the rights of songwriters are under attack” and asking songwriters to sign an online petition. It’s the 20th anniversary of Nirvana’s In Utero, and among the items included in the new box-set is a four-page letter from producer Steve Albini. “I would like to be paid like a plumber,” he writes. Read more.
CD Baby Pro: Get Every Penny You’ve Earned In Music Royalties
CD Baby has launched CD Baby Pro, a new service for independent music artists that helps collect the songwriting and music royalties you’ve earned worldwide. Even if you’ve registered your works with a PRO, it’s virtually impossible to collect all the publishing royalties owed to you every time one of your songs is purchased, streamed, or played in a public setting. CD Baby Pro solves this problem and makes it easy for you to get paid what you’ve earned. Read more.