ASCAP/BMI payments for Jingles?

[davewalton]

Hi,This isn't my line of music, but a friend was asking if the jingle songwriters get royalty payments for national commercials. The question came as a result of a recent listing where the Captain Morgan Rum people are looking for a new jingle.As an example, do the songwriters of "Woo Hoo" get royalties from all the airplay that comes from the Vonage commercials?Thanks,Dave

[mani]

Yes they do, unless it's a work for hire. The Vonage commercial is a Japanese punk band as far as I remember. Can't think of the name but they get paid every time you hear that song. They must be rolling in it by now!

[matto]

Not really my line of work either, but...the answer is yes...although exactly how you get paid and for what varies from PRO to PRO. E.g. it's possible you'd get paid for major networks only (and not for local or cable), or only for "feature performances" (where the music is not covered by dialog for a certain portion of the jingle, or there is a vocal), and some PRO's will pay according to statistical surveys, others according to what is being reported to them by the networks.Before contemplating getting into this side of the business you should contact your PRO and find out the specifics from them.matto

[davewalton]

Quote:Before contemplating getting into this side of the business you should contact your PRO and find out the specifics from them.mattoThanks to Matto and Mani. I have no desire to pursue this kind of thing but I'll pass the info along to my songwriter friends who are were wondering about this.I'll have to admit that privately I'd like like to be receiving "Woo Hoo" royalties but I'd never admit publicly to writing such a song.

[edteja]

Dave,With that kind of money, you could afford to hire someone and pretend (publicly) he wrote it. Or claim to be a Japanese punk band.]Hey with that money, sky is the limit.

[mani]

I think Woo Hoo is quite brilliant meself. To take that standard classic blues progression and make it so totally your own in such a unique way is genius IMO. I know there was a thread on here a while back where people were slagging it off and saying it sounds crap but I love the whole sound and vibe of it too.

[nomiyah]

I asked ASCAP about this very thing. I placed a few songs with a guy who produced commercials for local cable, a chimney sweep ad, a carpet cleaner, etc. I never got any royalties so I called ASCAP. They told me that it all depends if the station reports the usage and apparently they don't. I'm sure things are different on national ads, as long as they aren't all drunk on rum.

[zink]

Quote:Can't think of the name but they get paid every time you hear that song. They must be rolling in it by now!I think it's the "5 6 7 8s" from Kill Bill fame

[mani]

That's right! Tarantino's movies might be awful these days but he's stiil got great taste in music. He used some of the tracks from those old 'Vampyros Lesbos' movies a while back in something or other. Great stuff!

[mani]

Hey Dave!!! I just got forwarded for that Captain Morgan listing! The company is huge! I'm so psyched!!!!!!