Re: Composer's Fees for Mechanical Music
By Stephen Kent Goodman
I'll do my best to make a suggestion that seems to be working for me.
The truth is that the Harry Fox Agency is only interested in mass market music although they will say otherwise. An example are the CD's that are recorded by ragtime artists and pressed and distributed either by micro-labels or the artists themselves (1,000 units and under). One of my own producers was flatly told by Harry Fox that unless he expected to sell 20,000 units, not to even bother contacting them. In the case of piano rolls, with under 50 copies of each tune issued, I would let sleeping dogs lie.
My personal philosophy on this approach is to allow the roll arranger or label to use any composition of mine at no charge from me nor my own publishing company. I generally just want a couple of copies of the rolls, as both Eric Bernhoft of Upright & Grand and L. Douglas Henderson of Artcraft will attest to.
What I would suggest, if you want to do everything clean and legally, is to write the publishers -- not Harry Fox -- and inform them that you want to do a "limited promotional edition" of the tunes in question, quoting the 20 roll or so edition of each number. Go on to inform them that this of course would be "_of no charge to them_" and would ultimately help stimulate interest and sales in the sheet music and/or recordings of these tunes.
If you can convey to the publisher the relatively miniscule quantity of roll sales you are attempting, and should this initial "Promo" run sell out, you might be in a position to negotiate with them for something financially rewarding for everyone involved.
Also, bear in mind the 75-year copyright law. Tunes written in 1922 and before are fair game to be reissued with no royalties paid to anyone, and I am sure Matthew Caulfield will correct me, if I am wrong.
By the way, I have enjoyed both of the George Bogatko rolls on Bill Jelen's BAM-BAM label very much, and I appreciate Mr. Jelen's committ- ment to perforated paper music as a true labor of love. I would also be interested in inviting comments from our European Organ arrangers and book music issuers as to how they address the royalty situation using more modern tunes that their insturments are famous for.
S. K. Goodman
[ You are a "smooth talker" with shrewd ideas, Steve! How could
[ they refuse your suggestions?!! -- Robbie
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(Message sent Fri 3 Jan 1997, 17:48:04 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.) |
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