Would you like to know some secrets about the music industry? How ’bout these?
“there is no easy way to identify who owns which rights in and to most pieces of music and there is no easy way to get a quote and pay them.”
or
“9.1 cents per cut on a CD or per download that is compulsory under the current copyright laws…usually divided up by the record company, the publisher(s), the producers, performers, composers and other interested parties.”
These are quotes from a Shelly Palmer piece from The Huffington Post entitled Lawsuit: Music Publishers v. YouTube Doesn’t Solve The Problem. I’ve chosen this for this Music & Money Monday post for two reasons:
– First, Palmer does an excellent job describing the various rights associated with music. Master, Sync, Public Performance and Mechanical (9.1 cents) are just some of the rights covered in the post (and Palmer is quick to point out he’s not covered them all). Even if you think you know the ins-and-outs of music contracts, I recommend you read the entire post.
– 9.1 cents. Yes, 9.1 cents is the amount of money that is at the core of the dilemma facing the music business. Of course I’m over simplifying, but not by that much. Remember, I had a record contract so I’ve seen this writing (with my signature on it too).
9.1 cents is the amount of money collected out of proceeds every time a mechanical copy (literally a “product” – CD, tape, LP and now, digital download) is purchased. And to quote Palmer again, this is money the money that’s “divided up by the record company, the publisher(s), the producers, performers, composers and other interested parties.”
In other words, with the exception of the publishers, this is how all the artistic folks get paid. It’s also the amount they all split in order to get paid.
9.1 cents.
NOW what do you think of Radiohead’s idea?
