Allowing free use of your music while belonging to a PRO

[mazz]

Just to be clear: I wasn't singling anyone out on my post, and I wasn't defending the tactics or methods of the PROs (God knows I'm still learning about this stuf). I'm just trying to point out that every business has basics, and success in any business requires knowledge of those basics. Sometimes I think we musicians feel we don't need to know this stuff because our business is unique, but our business is like any other, at some point some money has to change hands. And there's a lot of hands out there looking for a piece of that money and a lot of money doesn't get to the musicians because of their ignorance. (I just noticed that the word ignorance contains he root "ignore". Think about it)

Let's raise the level of the business aspect by repspecting ourselves, our colleagues and clients by becoming more fluent in the basics of the business side.

Mazz

[OrionSatori]

Two things:

First: You share a common misconception about PROs with many folks. PROs do monitor broadcasts, but they have to have a way to know that your composition was used in a particular production, and these days, that is a cue sheet. Until the digital recognition technology shakes out and becomes commonly used, this manual method of production companies filing cue sheets is the only way that the PRO can be alerted to the fact that your music is going to be broadcast as part of a production.

Ok, that makes sense. Thanks.

Second: If you value your music as "free", then that is what everyone else will value your music as. If you really want to donate your music in a way that honors you, your music and and your professional colleagues and the industry itself, then you need to have a value for your music, even if you don't charge them for that value. These film makers, etc., that expect music for "free" need to know that you would normally license your music for a certain fee, but since you believe in their project, you will give them a 100% donation, and would they please sign this invoice. This way, you are alerting them to the value of your music and making them realize that music isn't really "free", because you have placed some inherent value to it and are not just "giving away" the fruits of your labor and the creative intellectual property that you have brought into the world. That's worth a lot!!!

Exposure to tens of thousands of people in and of itself isn't going to get you anywhere unless you have a way to capitalize on that exposure, such as a full touring schedule, radio play, strong internet presence, etc. If your music shows up in a popular production and folks can't find your music or go to hear you play, then you've completely blown that opportunity.

I completely agree. I have my music on a number of different websites, some of which allow me to give the option of free downloads with an email address or a "like" on facebook, or for purchase. I know it would be foolish to not take full advantage of exposure.

I strongly suggest you think about how you are going to value your music and promote yourself, if you haven't already, so that you can be clear with folks that want to use your music that there is value to it and you don't just give it away willy nilly, but you put it where it has value for many reasons, some of which may, at times be monetary, sometimes not so much, but you have already considered what it is worth. At the very least, it's a starting point for a conversation about the value of music.

Your music is your life's work, value it as much as you value your life.

Good luck,

Mazz

Thanks, I've spent a number of years thinking about this as the internet has changed the business model of music. I've come to the conclusion that I deserve to get paid for my music, but in an age where people can get it on the internet for free, one way or another, you have to accept that and find the best way to deal with that, using "free" to your advantage.

[sethlit]

I'm intrigued with this discussion. I also REALLY like Mazz's comment about providing an invoice with a 100% price deduction rather than simply giving your service/song for free. Not only will it remind the recipient of our worth, but it seems to be good practice when it comes to taxes as well. I would think you should at least be able to deduct your service/costs for your time.

Speaking of the Road Rally (okay...it was just me speaking about it it in my own mind...can you tell I'm excited?), are there any good classes addressing these specific topics? Hmmm....

"The mysterious ways of the PROs" or maybe "Music Business 101...even your pet parakeet can understand it."

Seth

[matto]

There will be a music business 101 class but I'm not sure it's geared towards pet parakeets...

At this point many of the classes have not be announced yet so it's too early to tell what else there may be...

[Nick2012]

So, T&V, what about bands that play covers in a bar? Is there a way for someone in the band to report their set list to the PRO so the copyright holders get some revenue from the pot of money you've mentioned?

Nick

[Hookjaw Brown]

"BMI Live" now will accept your set list from our iPhone after you finish playing. You can also e-mail the set list in. We play about 1/2 originals and 1/2 covers but list them all. We have just started doing this and I have had no feed back (or checks) from BMI.