CD Baby Pro Publishing and Taxi Submissions

[Razor7Music]

Hello All--

This post feels a little like the old Tootsie Pop commercial with the wise old owl. This is the 3rd spot I've been recommended I post this same question. Hopefully, I won't get bit!

I am looking into digital music distribution with CD Baby. I am with BMI and am currently 100%/100% owner of my tracks. What, if any, are the drawbacks of using CD Baby Pro Publishing and then later trying to submit to a Taxi listing? Would this only be an issue for library listings?

I appreciate your insights.

Happy Thanksgiving!

[funsongs]

Same dilemma for me, Stephen - in my case, an Old-Guy still unfamiliar and uncomfortable in this social media age.
Literally, just yesterday, I reached out to a younger person in my locale to see about getting some savvy help.
I too have a BMI account, 4 CDs manufactured by CD Baby - and reluctant to use the separate company - CD Baby Distribution - based on their pressure to sign their publishing agreement.

Maybe I misunderstood - but I felt adequately warned at the Road Rally that doing so would/could encumber getting any of those tracks ever having a chance to be licensed by another publisher/library/end-user; whatever.

SO - I'll be interested in the answers you get, and hope to jump this hurdle once and for all.
The only 'hint' so far, and I'm not even sure about that, is tunecore.

Happy Thanksgiving to you, too.
Help! - I need somebody.
Help! - not just anybody.
Help! - you know I need someone...
HELP!!

[Razor7Music]

SO - I'll be interested in the answers you get, and hope to jump this hurdle once and for all.

Let's hope the 3rd time is a charm! I haven't heard anything yet. Maybe I just wasn't posting in the right forum--let's give it some time.

[MBantle]

More senior Taxi members will probably be better positioned to answer that but I had asked the same question some time ago and I understand best practice is not to "release" or register songs you are pitching with Taxi. If it is for a library there are usual very specific splits and I think that needs to be agreed on a case by case basis before the actual "splits" can be registered with e.g. BMI. And, even if it is a non-exclusive deal I understand there will always be enough time to "publish" your song using CDBaby, Tunecore etc... if you want to make sure your song generates income if someone decides to download it during or after watching that episode of Game of Thrones
Cheers,
Matt

[funsongs]

Reminds me - I watched The Bucket List last night...
sort of along the same lines, eh Stephen?

[Razor7Music]

"...I had asked the same question some time ago..."

Hey Matt--

Thanks for your post. I did a search on the forums to see if this question had been asked already, and after going through many pages of not finding my question, I thought it would be OK to ask again if it had been covered a while back.

Just want to add that I'm looking into this while I consider signing up with CD Baby. I wish it was because all the libraries and music sups out there are clambering for my tracks, but that's not the case.

[Casey H]

If you want to pitch your songs to Film/TV music libraries, DO NOT give any publishing or publishing admin to CD Baby, Tunecore, or any other party. Since a music library needs to be able to have your publishing free and clear, many will not sign your song if any other party has a piece or publishing.

So, yes it's mainly an issue for music libraries (or any publisher). That being said, the largest share of Film/TV placements for almost everyone is through music libraries. So, you could be giving up a lot as far as opportunities.

HTH
Casey

[Razor7Music]

If you want to pitch your songs to Film/TV music libraries, DO NOT give any publishing or publishing admin to CD Baby, Tunecore, or any other party. Since a music library needs to be able to have your publishing free and clear, many will not sign your song if any other party has a piece or publishing.

So, yes it's mainly an issue for music libraries (or any publisher). That being said, the largest share of Film/TV placements for almost everyone is through music libraries. So, you could be giving up a lot as far as opportunities.

HTH
Casey

Thanks, Casey

You are the man.