No royalties/writer's fee if it's cover songs or PD songs?

[FredrikPark]

Hi, I wonder about this in general too.

And for a specific case, I consider making a collab with a classical opera aria by a classical composer.
Since it only would be a cover version of a Public Domain composition (of a long dead classical composer in this case), will there be no royalties/writer's fees at all?

The license fee is this case is $300, so I would hope there was some kind of royalty included, but it seems there isn't?
(Doesn't even state it, even if it would be an original composition of yours)


Thanks a lot in advance for sharing knowledge on this subject! (or for any reply too for that matter)



From the listing:

"ITALIAN-STYLE OPERA SONGS (ORIGINAL and/or PUBLIC DOMAIN) with Male or Female Vocals are needed for several $300, Non-Exclusive, Direct-to-Producer placements in a food-based documentary on PBS.
...
Broadcast Quality is needed (great sounding home recordings are fine).
...
The license fee for this is $300. This is a Direct-to-the Show’s Producer Pitch, so you’ll keep 100% ownership of your Copyright (if your piece is original) and Master Recording. If you submit an original piece, you need to own or control the Master and Copyright. If you submit a cover of a Public domain piece, you need to own or control the Master Recording. Submit one to three Songs online or per CD, include lyrics. All submissions will be screened on a Yes/No basis - No full critiques. Submissions must be received no later than 11:59PM (PDT), on Wednesday, September 7th, 2016. TAXI #U160907IO

[cassmcentee]

Hey Fredrik!
If you are recording the cover tune just for THIS LISTING... I wouldn't do it!!!
They did not ask for COVER TUNES!!!
I believe the use of cover tunes forces the music supervisor to pay more fees than they want to in order to use them (cover songs).
Cover songs will always be a specific request in listings where the supervisor is already expecting to pay the extra fees!!!
I could be wrong though....
Maybe someone with more experience can answer this question better!

[hummingbird]

They specifically state Public Domain is ok. PD means there are no licencing fees for the use of the work.

I believe you would get performance royalties in terms of being the arranger. A new arrangement can be copyrighted. It can be registered as well with a PRO as an arrangement.

[hummingbird]

PS - here is a good article on (c) relating to arrangements.

https://www.tmea.org/assets/pdf/southwe ... an2011.pdf

[andygabrys]

I think the issue got a little complicated by mentioning "cover-songs". "Cover songs" related to tune that are NOT PD and fall under the umbrella of tunes where the writers are holders of the composition, and you are making a new master - and as Cass mentioned yes that usually amounts to a sync license being negotiated with the writers of the song (which might be substantial) but because they are using your master then the master use fee is where they are going to save $$$ (assuming that you an an idependent artist who doesn't command the marketing and negotiating clout of the writers of the song - think of a Beatles song).

If it's a PD composition you get a reduced royalty pertaining to how much original content there is the arrangement. That's on the writers side. If you check with your PRO you will get an idea of how much that would be (the figure 20% sticks in my mind).

The master side is the only side where you will receive full share. And since this is a direct to super placement, there is no publisher who would be assuming any of the money.

The $300 licensing fee you should get in either case.

Hope I haven't made this more confusing than needs to be.

[FredrikPark]

Yes, it seems way clearer to me now!

Thanks a bunch for helping me with it, and sorry if I wrote in confusing ways. Still having a cold...

I was both wondering about the cases when they ask for cover versions of copyrighted songs, as well as the cases when they ask for (or allow) Public Domain songs by e.g. long dead composers.
And with all the helpful replies from everyone, I think I got answers for both cases.


I did notice there is a section when I register a track with my PRO (Swedish "STIM"), that there is the option to choose a re-arrangement of other listed composers (e.g. composers from the classical music eras), but I never had any such track to submit before.

Thanks a lot again, all. This forum is great!

[cassmcentee]

Thanks for the clarifications!
As usual, I responded without reading the entire listing... (why I failed so many tests in school)
Sorry if I caused any confusion...

[FredrikPark]

no worries whatsoever, Rob!
Your mention was a helpful reminder as well!