When it rains, it pours

Did you get a deal through TAXI? Lets hear about it!

Moderators: admin, mdc, TAXIstaff

Post Reply
samonbass
Getting Busy
Getting Busy
Posts: 52
Joined: Mon Aug 27, 2007 5:46 pm
Gender: Male
Contact:

When it rains, it pours

Post by samonbass » Thu Feb 28, 2008 4:20 pm

Hey everyone, heres my story.After getting contacted by a music library for a song submitted through taxi, I ended up signing 4 songs. Just after I sent an email telling the company I was sending the signed contract to them, another music library sent me an email saying they wanted to sign up a song I sent directly to them!!....... problem is, the song in question just got signed with the original music company exclusively. The new company offers a non exclusive deal. I was wondering, before I contact the second publisher & tell them the song is already signed, should I make an alternate version of the song? How different does it have to be to be deemed a different song but still sound like the original? I also have another song in the same genre (but doesnt sound exactly like the first song) that I can send them...Any advice, help GREATLY appreiciated. Thanks, Sam.

matto
Serious Musician
Serious Musician
Posts: 3320
Joined: Tue Mar 30, 2004 5:02 pm
Gender: Male
Location: Los Angeles
Contact:

Re: When it rains, it pours

Post by matto » Thu Feb 28, 2008 5:33 pm

Quote:After getting contacted by a music library for a song submitted through taxi, I ended up signing 4 songs. Just after I sent an email telling the company I was sending the signed contract to them, another music library sent me an email saying they wanted to sign up a song I sent directly to them!!....... problem is, the song in question just got signed with the original music company exclusively. The new company offers a non exclusive deal. I was wondering, before I contact the second publisher & tell them the song is already signed, should I make an alternate version of the song? How different does it have to be to be deemed a different song but still sound like the original? I also have another song in the same genre (but doesnt sound exactly like the first song) that I can send them...You definitely can't just make an alternate version of the song and pass it off as a new song. When a company signs a song exclusively they typically acquire copyright ownership over the composition, not just whatever version of the composition you might have sent them...so you'd be getting yourself into major legal trouble by doing what you're considering.Simply tell the new library that the song in question has "unfortunately" ( ) just been signed exclusively by a different company, but that you would be happy to write them a similar song from scratch, and that you also have a song in the same genre available if they'd like to hear it.matto

chrisbee
Impressive
Impressive
Posts: 167
Joined: Tue Feb 27, 2007 6:42 pm
Gender: Male
Location: Middle Earth
Contact:

Re: When it rains, it pours

Post by chrisbee » Thu Feb 28, 2008 6:56 pm

Quote:Hey everyone, heres my story.After getting contacted by a music library for a song submitted through taxi, I ended up signing 4 songs. Just after I sent an email telling the company I was sending the signed contract to them, another music library sent me an email saying they wanted to sign up a song I sent directly to them!!....... problem is, the song in question just got signed with the original music company exclusively. The new company offers a non exclusive deal. I was wondering, before I contact the second publisher & tell them the song is already signed, should I make an alternate version of the song? How different does it have to be to be deemed a different song but still sound like the original? I also have another song in the same genre (but doesnt sound exactly like the first song) that I can send them...Any advice, help GREATLY appreiciated. Thanks, Sam.Hey, congrats Sam!! The double whammy. I guess that means it's a good song! Follow Matt's advice and write another (or a dozen! ) for them.cb

User avatar
gitarrero
Serious Musician
Serious Musician
Posts: 1201
Joined: Sat Jul 08, 2006 3:11 am
Gender: Male
Location: Switzerland
Contact:

Re: When it rains, it pours

Post by gitarrero » Fri Feb 29, 2008 11:20 am

@samon: I had the same situation a couple of weeks ago. I did what matto described - I've written a new track in the same style/vein, let the "second" library know that the original song already has been signed - and the library was happy to sign the new track (plus 2 other tracks).best of luck & congrats on your deals,martin
production, composition & stringed instruments

User avatar
ciskokidd
Committed Musician
Committed Musician
Posts: 969
Joined: Thu Aug 26, 2004 8:43 am
Gender: Male
Location: Lake Balboa, CA
Contact:

Re: When it rains, it pours

Post by ciskokidd » Fri Feb 29, 2008 1:56 pm

Hi Sam,Your predicament is actually a great situation. As Matt says, now you can send them a similar song and they can see that you have more where the original came from.You also have the added advantage of letting them know you can attract other publishers as well.Congratulations!!Cisco

samonbass
Getting Busy
Getting Busy
Posts: 52
Joined: Mon Aug 27, 2007 5:46 pm
Gender: Male
Contact:

Re: When it rains, it pours

Post by samonbass » Sat Mar 01, 2008 1:49 pm

Thanks guys for your advice & support, am about to write the new track, let you know how it all goes....Sam.

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 13 guests