In the music industry, protecting your work and understanding how sponsors and recording contracts work are crucial steps in securing both your rights and your future income. In this article, we will address how to copyright your songs and explain recording concepts and recording contracts to ensure you are well informed.
Registering the copyright of your songs is essential to protect your intellectual property and ensure that you are legally recognized as the creator of your works. Here are the steps you need to register your songs:
The first step is to make sure you have complete documentation of your song. This includes the lyrics, sheet music and any recordings of the work. You must have a physical or digital copy of your song to send to the copyright registry.
Depending on the country you are in, you will have to go to the corresponding intellectual property office. In Mexico, you can register your works through the National Copyright Institute (INDAUTOR).
You must fill out the registration form with detailed information about your work including title, author (s), and date of creation. In addition, you must pay the corresponding fees for your registration to be completed.
Once you have completed and verified all the information and documentation, you can send your request to the INDAUTOR. You will receive a registration certificate confirming your copyright on the song.
Thecontinuesare payments you receive when your music is used or played. There are different types of exceptions in the music industry:
These are generated when your music is played in public, whether in concerts, radio, television, or public places. Collective management companies such as SACM (Sociedad de Autores y Compositores de México) are responsible for collecting and distributing these volumes.
These are generated by the physical or digital reproduction of your music, such as CDs, vinyls and digital downloads. It is important to make sure you have an agreement with a company like SoundExchange to collect these payments.
These hearts are generated when your music is used in combination with image, such as in movies, series, commercials or video games. Here, specific agreements are usually negotiated that determine the pay-per-use.
In the digital age, many competitors come from streaming platforms such as, Apple Music and others. Music distributors such asSoundOncan help you manage and maximize this revenue by ensuring that your music is available on multiple platforms.
A recording contract is an agreement between the artist and a record company. This contract defines the obligations and rights of both parties, as well as the compensation and percentages of. Here are the most important elements you must understand about recording contracts:
The time the contract will be in effect. It may be for a specific number of albums or a specific duration of time.
Advances are prepayments that the label offers to the artist. These are recoupable, i.e., the company will recover these payments before the artist receives his.
The contract must specify what rights you cede to the label, such as recording, distribution and marketing rights. In addition, it must establish what support and resources the company will provide for the production and promotion of the album.
It should be clear how much you will receive from sales and plays of your music. This point is crucial to ensure that you are getting fair compensation for your work.
It is important that the contract establishes how will be managed and distributed. The record company is often responsible for this task, but it is essential to ensure that there is transparency in this process.
Registering your copyright, understanding the different types of variations and being clear about the elements of a recording contract are essential to protect and maximize your income as an artist. Make sure you are well informed and seek professional support when necessary. Platforms such asSoundOncan help you manage your music efficiently and professionally, making your path to success easier.