What's the skinny on covers! Listing #130308CV

[NathanNasby]

I hope this is the appropriate location to ask this question. What I'm curious about is Listing 130308CV for the "At Last" cover.

How does this work. I've only ever recorded original music or collaborations of original music. Does an artist have to purchase the mechanical license to sell to a music supervisor?

Is this something that the listings music supervisor pays for a mechanical license and the 5,000 - 15,000 payout is simply for the master recording?

When it says you must control 100% of the master rights is that talking about the recording itself with no samples, or is this some type of mechanical license?

OR , does the artist simply record an original cover (as long as there is no sampling) and submit to taxi? I'm interested in giving this a shot, so quick advise would be awesome! If some licensing is necessary please provide the information so I can get that going. Thanks so much!

MUSIC SUPERVISOR working on MAJOR HOLLYWOOD FILM and TV PROJECTS needs YOUR COVERS of the classic song: "AT LAST."

Here's the best part. They're open to hearing VOCAL **and** INSTRUMENTAL VERSIONS in ALL GENRES, TEMPOS, and LANGUAGES! Want to do a stripped-down, acoustic-guitar version with tender vocals? How about an UPBEAT, BOSSA NOVA version in Russian? CONTEMPORARY COUNTRY? Ska... Electro Pop... Indie Rock... the possibilities are endless! You can go serious, sexy, romantic, quirky, kitschy, obnoxious, etc.... Here's your chance to give this amazing song your personal touch!

TAXI Tip 1: They're going to be looking for something FRESH and UNIQUE, but accessible to a wide audience. Think outside the box. But if you're going to play it safe, your version really has to be spectacular. And... just as you wouldn't draw a mustache on the Mona Lisa, please do NOT add your own lyrics or a different melody to the original song.

TAXI Tip 2: For songs with vocals, we think the vocal delivery is going to be KEY for this. Give the lyrics meaning without going over the top. Could simplicity, authentic soul, and some edge win the day? Absolutely! Hip and Contemporary? Without a doubt! It's up to you to find that sweet spot that makes people notice how cool it is, but without stealing the spotlight from the song itself - the true star of the show.

If your cover is licensed, you will receive a one-time buy-out of $5,000-$15,000. You must own or control 100% of the Master rights to submit for this listing. NO SAMPLES of other songs or artists can be incorporated into your track. And don't forget, this is DIRECT to the MUSIC SUPERVISOR! Please submit one to three cover versions. All submissions will be screened on a YES/NO BASIS by a person Hand-Picked by the MUSIC SUPERVISOR. No full critiques. Please submit by Friday, March 8, 2013, 9:30AM PST. TAXI #U130308CV

[mazz]

You would get a 15k master sync fee and no back end. The production takes care of the sync and mechanical with the original writers/publishers. You simply create the cover and submit to Taxi

[Casey H]

There are two distinct components to a recorded piece of music: The composition (e.g. the songwriting) and the master recording. The ownership of these is not always the same.

Master license fees are paid to the owner(s) of the master recording. PRO (backend) royalties are paid for the the composition (paid to the songwriters).

So, as mazz said, if your cover got placed in film/TV, you would collect on the master license, but not on the backend. Just to add, the listing specified a range of $5K-$15K for the license, not necessarily the max $15K.

Casey

[NathanNasby]

AWESOME! Thanks so much for the info guys. I was treading in unfamiliar water there and appreciate the education !

[mazz]

Just to clarify:

The Master license is to license the recording in synchronization to video, what is known as simply a Sync license is what I've heard most often referring to the composition itself.

Usually we issue a Master/Sync license because we own both and they are often rolled into one, both in our minds and in the real world (via a contract) but with situations where the master and the composition are owned by two (or more) entities, the licenses are issued separately by the various parties.

This is why you'll often hear covers on commercials, simply because the owner of the original master wants too much money for it!!

Hopefully that clarifies things a little bit more.

Mazz

[Casey H]

Thanks Mazz for clarifying... I edited my post because it was technically incorrect as you said. The right to sync a composition to video belongs to the owner of the composition. The right to actually use the recording belongs to the master owner.

Casey

[jvfade]

You would get a 15k master sync fee and no back end. The production takes care of the sync and mechanical with the original writers/publishers. You simply create the cover and submit to Taxi

What does it mean: "master sync fee and no back end"?
Thank you.

[sguiles]

Nathan,

Thanks for asking this question! I was actually wondering about that. Thanks Mazz for clearing some of that up for us.



I learn something new every day!

-Steve

[andygabrys]

You would get a 15k master sync fee and no back end. The production takes care of the sync and mechanical with the original writers/publishers. You simply create the cover and submit to Taxi

What does it mean: "master sync fee and no back end"?
Thank you.

they will buy out your ownership / copyright of the track in its entirety - which is indicated by Master use buy-out / Synchronization to picture buy-out.

On the royalty side, you will not have any share of it, writers or publishers.

therefore - no "backend" - earnings that aren't paid up front - i.e. royalties.

[matto]

You would get a 15k master sync fee and no back end. The production takes care of the sync and mechanical with the original writers/publishers. You simply create the cover and submit to Taxi

What does it mean: "master sync fee and no back end"?
Thank you.

they will buy out your ownership / copyright of the track in its entirety - which is indicated by Master use buy-out / Synchronization to picture buy-out.

On the royalty side, you will not have any share of it, writers or publishers.

therefore - no "backend" - earnings that aren't paid up front - i.e. royalties.

Actually the listing is confusing in its wording. Normally in a situation like this, they won't buy out your rights or ownership...they will pay you a *license fee* to use the *master recording* which you have newly created. The mention of the word "buy-out" in this listing is either a mistake on Taxi's part, or then this is an unusual situation in which the company actually wants ownership of the master.
The ownership of the composition is with the publisher of "At Last" with whom the supervisor has to negotiate separately to license the composition side. For this they will have to pay a separate sync licensing fee.
The publisher and the original songwriters will get the performance royalties since in the US these are paid to writers/publishers only, not performers and/or master owners.

So the bottom line is: should your master be chosen, you will be paid a fee of between 5k and 15k. That is all the money you will see.
Whether or not you'll give up ownership of your master recording is something you would want to clarify with Taxi if planning to submit to this listing...

matto