Legal Articles and Advice

In the Music Business, rates, fees and values are determined in a number of different ways as well as in a number of different venues- these include Negotiation between individuals, entities and industry organizations, Rate Courts, Copyright Royalty Boards and Tribunals, Statutory licenses, legis

On occasion, if the story line of a composition is strong, or the subject matter unique, there might be interest by a producer, a third party, or one of the copyright owners to try to turn the song into a motion picture or television production.

One of the most financially lucrative rights of Copyright not only in the U.S. but also in foreign countries, is the Performance Right.

The online/digital world has dramatically changed the way music is licensed in all media in addition to affecting the songwriter, composer and music publisher fees and backend royalties associated with any project.

Published in Entertainment and Sports Lawyer, Volume 27, Number 3, Fall 2009. © 2009 by the American Bar Association. Reproduced with permission. All rights reserved.

In most cases, the traditional sources of income and royalty producing types of music use are still the areas that, for many compositions, generate the most income.  For example, radio and television performance income, motion picture and television synchronization income, television advertising

Performance royalties-the monies received from ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and foreign societies-have always been the primary and sometimes only source of film and television composer and songwriter back end compensation.