Ephemeral Music

[Hookjaw Brown]

Hi all,

I have written a song for listing TAXI # Y100510AR, which pays in Ephemerals (OZ money). They pay a PRO for the ephemeral use of the song. I belong to BMI but my registered songs have always been previously copyrighted. The time element here is very short, 5 days before submission is due. Do I have to get it registered and copyrighted before submission or is there time after acceptance to get this done?

It is a cool listing, to which we have written a cool song but hate to be a penny short on something.

[matto]

Hi all,

I have written a song for listing TAXI # Y100510AR, which pays in Ephemerals (OZ money). They pay a PRO for the ephemeral use of the song. I belong to BMI but my registered songs have always been previously copyrighted. The time element here is very short, 5 days before submission is due. Do I have to get it registered and copyrighted before submission or is there time after acceptance to get this done?

It is a cool listing, to which we have written a cool song but hate to be a penny short on something.

I'm not sure what you mean by "pays in Ephemerals (OZ money)"...
If you are talking about an (actual or potential) ephemeral use of your song, as far as the PRO is concerned it would pay the same way. There's just no need to obtain a license (and pay a sync fee) for an ephemeral use of a song.

Basically, copyright law states that you are the automatic owner of any song you write as soon as you write it. Registration with the copyright office may just allow you to prove that ownership more easily in the unlikely event that anybody ever questions it. It is not a prerequisite for registering your song with your PRO or collecting royalties on it.

[Hookjaw Brown]

Thanks Matto for clearing that up. The word Ephemerals just conjures up a mind picture, some Munchkins paying for something in Ephemerals. Diamond and Ephemeral bracelets......