register songs with ASCAP now ... or wait?

[deantaylor]

My co-writers and I are signing a song, at least temporarily (term is 0 years), to a non-exclusive library that does not take any of the publishers share. So if the song is placed, we need to register it with ASCAP ourselves. Is there any downside to registering the song now or should we wait until a perf royalty generating placement actually happens?

For example: how would it work if we register the song now and then later we want to sign it to a library (exclusive) that doesn't retitle ... how would the library get the publishing? Would we just delete our original registration, would they register it under a new title or ..... ??

Any other potential downsides?

Thanks,
Dean

[Casey H]

I don't know of any downside to registering the songs & I think you absolutely should. Many libraries don't tell you when there has been a placement and the only way you find out is 6-9 months later on your PRO statement. So having the titles registered protects you from the get-go. You wouldn't want your title on a cue sheet but not matching anything within a PRO.

If down the road you signed one of those songs to an exclusive publishing deal, you would work with the publisher to make sure the registration was changed.

Casey

[deantaylor]

Thanks Casey. I was hoping that was the answer, 'cause that's the way I've been doing up until now. But I was never 100 percent sure.

Anybody agree or disagree with Casey's answer?

[gerrybrenes]

Hi there. I have actually been wondering the same thing myself. I am not in your situation however,
No deals are happening with me.

I am just wondering if I should be registering all my work with ASCAP (as a writer only) from the get go even before anyone even approaches me about it.

In other words: I am currently writing tons of music for all sorts of listings and then immediately registering all of it myself. Is this okay? I ask because on another spot in this forum I read that you should let the libraries do it for you.

The way I see it is that I should be able to register my own work as a writer, and if they want to use it, they can register themselves as publisher.

Am I wrong about this?

Thanks for your help.

[matto]

Hi there. I have actually been wondering the same thing myself. I am not in your situation however,
No deals are happening with me.

I am just wondering if I should be registering all my work with ASCAP (as a writer only) from the get go even before anyone even approaches me about it.

In other words: I am currently writing tons of music for all sorts of listings and then immediately registering all of it myself. Is this okay? I ask because on another spot in this forum I read that you should let the libraries do it for you.

The way I see it is that I should be able to register my own work as a writer, and if they want to use it, they can register themselves as publisher.

Am I wrong about this?

Thanks for your help.

You CAN register them but unless/until they are out in the market place being pitched and potentially generating performance royalties there is no benefit in doing so, it's basically just a waste of your time. If a publisher signs them he'll most likely do that work for you. If you have already registered them at that point, they may have to amend your existing registration.

[Casey H]

You CAN register them but unless/until they are out in the market place being pitched and potentially generating performance royalties there is no benefit in doing so, it's basically just a waste of your time. If a publisher signs them he'll most likely do that work for you. If you have already registered them at that point, they may have to amend your existing registration.

Hi Matto
In the situation described here where someone signed a library deal with a non-retitle library, wouldn't that qualify as being out in the marketplace? I would think with a non-retitle deal it would be important to register the tracks reasonably soon (e.g. within a few months) after signing the deal since the library may never notify you when there is a placement.

Am I wrong?

Casey

[matto]

Casey my reply was directed at Gerry not Dean as indicated by my quotation...

Yes if it is being pitched as in Dean's situation then you would register it.