RECORD CLUB MECHANICAL ROYALTY ISSUES
[April 16, 1999]
The Harry Fox Agency, with which Trowbridge Publishing is a Publisher
Principal, announces that historically Record Clubs pay royalties at a
rate equal to 75% of standard mechanicals, and that under the "Record Club
Agreement" the record clubs are not required to obtain new or separate
mechanical licenses for the songs they record and distribute. They fall
back on the "original" licenses filed for the original recordings.
Harry Fox (NMPA) inform us that under this historical they have
difficulties tracking, monitoring, and collecting royalties on record club
releases. The databases are not designed to monitor such activity.
Furthermore, in light of the recent court decision in Fred Ahlert v.
Warner/Chappell Music, "it is advantageous for publishers to be able to
demonstrate by the existence of express licenses different master uses
authorized." [HFA, 03.22.99]
A NOTE ON INTERNET ROYALTIES ISSUES
The Harry Fox Agency recently solicited Publisher Principal signatures on
its first ever Internet Mechanical Royalties contract. This agreement
provides for The Harry Fox Agency to issue, collect, and administer
mechanical licenses for Internet sites who download mp3, RA, or other
binary format song and music files, for payment, to the public. As you
all know, Fall 1998 saw the rise of two major illegal (bootlegging) mp3
download sites, with their subsequent lawsuits resulting in mechanical
royalties now being paid on all label released works. Naturally,
Trowbridge Publishing signed this Binary Format Agreement on the behalf of
our fold of writers.
A NOTE ON INTERNET "Airplay" ROYALTIES
There is a new site online at mPulse.com, and they are tracking Internet
"Airplay", e.g. songs downloaded in binary format and hits to sites and on
songs. The tracking is performed per site, per artist, and per song.
It's pretty cool, check them out. (McClure & Trowbridge Publishing is at
#18 today, and George McClure is #2 on the Internet Country Charts. Jim
Kraneveldt is at #10 on Internet Soundtrack Charts.)
Trowbridge
writers who have master-quality recordings released are registered and
show in the charts!
Respectfully,
McClure & Trowbridge Publishing
|
