First Royalty Pmt.

[jerryjennings]

Not sure whether to celebrate or not. After almost 3 years of keeping taxi on the front burner I got my first royalty payment today. It was 2.53. That's two dollars and 53 cents. Hmmm. They played 23 seconds of a song, twice, on a cable show. I have a co-writer for 50 percent of the writer's share, and a publisher. So I know I only get a quarter of the pie. But dang! We're splitting ten bucks among three people? That has to be wrong.

[richmstudios]

Celebrate!!!

It's a tough business and it can take a looong time to get established. Look at this as your first small step towards bigger and better things.

Congratulations and continued success. Sincerely,

Rich

[6bq9]

This is why you will need to get thousands of placements to have a retirement fund. Now get back to work!

[michael11]

Spend it wisely!

[DesireInspires]

I got $1.76 for my first placement. Things have picked up a lot since then. Make more music. The money will come.

[AmandaAnderson]

Congratulations Jerry (edit note: sorry I had earlier typed Jenny apologies)

Think of it as the first installment into your retirement fund Because every time that show is aired, your fund will increase. Hence, the more you write, the bigger the fund grows, year on year.

Think of it as compound interest:

You writing the song is the initial deposit.
It gets placed once to start.
Next year its placed on 3 more shows.
Meanwhile you have written 10 more - 10 more deposits - and they slowly get placements....
and so on ad infinitum

It will grow, not in a straight line, but virally, rather like a slow motion explosion

And the more you write and submit each month/year, the faster it will all happen.

Of course, you need to add in the raw talent and the desire to learn

I'll shut up now

Amanda

[marcblack30]

Similar experience for me, I remember being so excited to get that first royalty, but at the same time, very bummed that it was only for a couple bucks
As everyone here has said, just keep it up and over time things will pick up. This certainly is not a business of instant gratification.

[jerryjennings]

Well thanks everyone for all the good info. If I was fishing for encouragement I certainly got it. I went to the road rally and attended Matt's "five year plan" so I get the concept. I just needed reminded I guess. Just got a new tune down last night for a monday deadline, so I figure I'm on the path.

Thanks, J

[SANDPEARL]

my first PRO payout was under $100.00...next one was a little more but the third was over $800.00
it DOES take time and several good tracks to make any real $ doing this..a handful of tracks will usually only make you a handful of dollars unless you get extremely lucky...be realistic, prolific and good at what you do and you'll get paid..