Do you need to register song with PRO if no publisher?

[TheElement]

Hi guys,

Got a license offer but there is no library or publisher involved.

This is what I have received so far from the agent working between myself and the client. Agent is not a publisher or library.

"The usage is for a non-exclusive license covering radio and corporate promotional usage for a period of 6 months."

Do I have to register song with my PRO? Is there backend on this type of deal?

Thanks!

[TerrellBurt]

I have no placements as of yet (That'll change by the end of 2015 ), but to my knowledge if a song isn't registered with a PRO the person who made you the license offer is responsible for submitting something called a "cue sheet" to your PRO if it ever gets placed. A cue sheet is all that is needed in order to be paid for background music in a film or TV show.

But just to be safe, I would still register it.

[TheElement]

Thanks. Good to know. I guess I can also check with the agent if I need to register it.

[pedrocosta]

If you were going through a publisher, then the publisher would be registering the track with their publishing information.
In this case you are the publisher and should register it. If cue sheets are submitted and there is no registration often the PRO will create a title using the info from the cue sheet. But it's best to have it registered so the cue sheet matches up. Always do your own due diligence. It's not a perfect system, but whatever you can do to ensure you get paid is helpful in the long run. Good luck and congrats

[PeterD]

Yup Gavin.

Go to your PRO home page, and create a new account (as a publisher this time), give it a name (that's the hard part), pay the fee, and assign that publisher to your song. It might take a few days before your publishing company is up and running with an IPI#.

Your publishing name will get 50% and you (the writer) will get 50% of any back-end activity.

Had to do that all last week for the music I gave the music supe. I'm an ASCAP guy and It was easy (and I was so nervous at the time)

Go for it!!

[pedrocosta]

Peter is right for some PROs that's the case.
On others you don't need to be a publisher. Your writer account will receive the publishing royalties if no publisher is listed.

[TheElement]

Thanks guys for the info. I thought as the writer you automatically owned 100% of the publishing and therefore was the publisher by default?

I just registered 3 songs with my PRO. I have decided to be my own library and work my own songs. However still would like to get them working in some other libraries.

[pedrocosta]

Yes, that may be the case in your PRO.
In my PRO I receive the publishing as wee without being a publisher.
If you want to retain the ability to pitch it on your own you can sign it with non-exclusive libraries.
They will then re-title the track and pitch it as well.

[LamarPecorino]

As a general rule I register everything with my PRO as soon as I have a recording that is being promoted. I usually only register it as a writer and leave the publisher aspect blank. If I don't assign it to a publisher, then all the monies are paid to me. If I do assign it to a publisher, then that is quickly done by modifying the registration with the PRO. I have heard that some publishers do not like dealing with writers that own publishing companies. Personally, I have not had that reaction from any company. I have had a publishing company for over 30 years. There are times that I assign material directly to my company, but those times are becoming less frequent. I hope this helps.

[TheElement]

Great info. Thanks guys. I want to try to place some of my songs direct to sup. Seems more money upfront..good payouts. Did submit a couple to exclusive libraries. Just two out of my genre I didn't want anymore and would rather a library put those to work if possible. But for now just submitting to non exclusives. Maybe when I have more songs to market I can try the exclusives.