Granting my own mechanical license

ncc1701 · Post by **ncc1701** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 10:28 am

I met another pianist/composer last spring who liked my ragtime piano piece so much that she's been performing it at recitals (with my blessing). Now she wants to record a CD of rags and waltzes. She's mainly sticking to public domain pieces but wants to include my piece and one other from a living composer, and wanted to know what sort of mechanical licensing agreement I wanted to work out.This will be a very small scale release, I'm sure. I'm the sole copyright owner and retain all the rights to the composition. I'm not officially a publisher.Anyone have any suggestions on what to charge? Would the statutory rate be too steep for a small project like this? Do I need to form a publishing company to make it legal (and for future business dealings as well)? Help help help.Kathleen

ncc1701 · Post by **ncc1701** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 4:42 am

Wow, nobody's ever been in this situation before? Guess I'm trailblazing here.Kathleen

simonparker · Post by **simonparker** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 6:31 am

hey Kathleen... need more specifics1) Is this a piece you've commercially released in the US?2) Is the other composer selling in the US or worldwide?The legal statutory rate in the US for mechanical royalties is 9.1 cents per unit sold/downloaded.

instantminstrel · Post by **instantminstrel** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 7:40 am

Kathleen,If you have not assigned the piece to a publisher, then you are it. Statutory rate seems like the way to go. All the artist will owe you is 9 cents per unit as both the writer and publisher. Jason Blume is a good resource for this info, either in his books or on his website.Dave

suzdoyle · Post by **suzdoyle** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 6:07 pm

I'd also recommend the book "the Permission Seeker's guide through the Legal Jungle" by Joy Butler: http://www.guidethroughthelegaljungleblog.com/Also, remember that publishing refers to PERMISSIONS about your song (e.g. who can record it or sell it). So you really are the publisher if you are responsible for granting rights to who may use your song and how they may use it.Best wishes!Suz

ncc1701 · Post by **ncc1701** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 9:52 am

Thanks guys! This helps a lot. Appreciate it.Kathleen

greatmoves · Post by **greatmoves** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 12:48 pm

Hi, also remember to include clauses that handle international sales etc... Just cover all bases and not just the immeadiate use as stated. If it never comes up seems like a waste, if it does and you have not addressed it, things might get ugly... Just my 2centsBB

Granting my own mechanical license

Granting my own mechanical license

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