an PRO brain-teaser

[deantaylor]

Jun 26, 2009, 3:57am, hurowitz wrote:DeanI assume when you speak of registering multiple titles you are NOT referencing the alternate title field of a single registration, you are talking about completely separate title registrations. As matto mentioned, the alternate title field would not help in separating income streams.Overall, IMO, this whole thing is way too complicated and the complications could even cause risk. For example, if a library saw you had so many variant registrations, they could be concerned as to whether it was safe to sign your track.I would not worry about all theses registrations. PRO statements do provide enough detail that you should be able to figure out which track was placed by whom. Also, the odds that you will sign with a library that does not re-title are very small, since (for better or worse!) there are tons more re-title libraries out there than non-re-title-- usually those are the exclusive ones. And, if you signed with an exclusive library, they would not be happy to find all this complication.Tease your brain on something else, LOL... Best,CaseyThanks Casey, but ....I have 8 songs signed to 2 different non-exclusive libraries that DO NOT re-title. That is over half my songs.I am talking about using alternate titles now (wasn't in the original post), one registration, 2 alternate titles, 3 titles total .. all are the same 'song', but there are 2 Master recordings of that song. If I sign to a non-retitling library, then I think I have to have 3 titles. No way around it.If your brain still wants to be teased, see my post right above yours for a clearer explanation of my current plan, I'd love your opinion on if there is a problem with my plan or if there is something better.If I sign with an exclusive library first, there will be no registration. I will not register the song unless we score a direct placement or sign the 2 Masters to a non-retitling library.Dean

[Casey H]

Hi DeanIf your intention is to differentiate uses by different titles I strongly suggest you do not use the "alternate title" fields, make completely separate registrations. Also, in those separate registrations, make the titles non-similar. With the libraries who are non-exclusive but do not re-title, how did THEY say would manage collecting PRO royalties without re-title? The reason I ask is I had an offer from a startup library once whereby the contract was very unclear. When I asked the question about re-titling, the person didn't even understand my question. (Obviously, I didn't sign)... I'm not sure how a non-exclusive library can take PRO royalties for only their placements without re-title. (Not saying it can't be done, but it seems very risky to all parties).Also, be careful about setting up any situation (later-- I know you aren't registering now) which may complicate things for a future library. I recently did a deal whereby the library person was very thorough, asked for documentation of everything, searched registrations, etc. I had some complexities that gave this person a lot of grief and could have blown the deal.Do what's most comfortable for you but just be aware of all the pluses and minuses.Best,Casey

[deantaylor]

Jun 26, 2009, 7:17am, hurowitz wrote:Hi DeanIf your intention is to differentiate uses by different titles I strongly suggest you do not use the "alternate title" fields, make completely separate registrations. Also, in those separate registrations, make the titles non-similar. With the libraries who are non-exclusive but do not re-title, how did THEY say would manage collecting PRO royalties without re-title? Best,CaseyThanks Casey. Appreciate you and Matto and Chris helping me on this. I know this is a confusing post. I think I've got a good solution in Reply #8, due in part to y'alls help.Maybe I should ask this question. What are alternate titles used for, in general? It seems to me that my use in Reply #8 is legitimate .. I am not using alternate titles simply to separate revenue streams .. I think I have a real substantive need to give my song 3 different titles. And all 3 of these titles have the same publisher/writer shares/splits, hence 1 registration, with alt titles.The libraries I am with who are non-exclusive and do not re-title, do NOT collect any of my PRO royalties .. all they get is a percentage of the licensing fee .. they are very clear about this .. in the contract and on their websites and in personal email/phone conversations.Dean

[Casey H]

Jun 27, 2009, 4:41am, deantaylor wrote:Jun 26, 2009, 7:17am, hurowitz wrote:Hi DeanIf your intention is to differentiate uses by different titles I strongly suggest you do not use the "alternate title" fields, make completely separate registrations. Also, in those separate registrations, make the titles non-similar. With the libraries who are non-exclusive but do not re-title, how did THEY say would manage collecting PRO royalties without re-title? Best,CaseyThanks Casey. Appreciate you and Matto and Chris helping me on this. I know this is a confusing post. I think I've got a good solution in Reply #8, due in part to y'alls help.Maybe I should ask this question. What are alternate titles used for, in general? It seems to me that my use in Reply #8 is legitimate .. I am not using alternate titles simply to separate revenue streams .. I think I have a real substantive need to give my song 3 different titles. And all 3 of these titles have the same publisher/writer shares/splits, hence 1 registration, with alt titles.The libraries I am with who are non-exclusive and do not re-title, do NOT collect any of my PRO royalties .. all they get is a percentage of the licensing fee .. they are very clear about this .. in the contract and on their websites and in personal email/phone conversations.DeanMy suggestions were based on the most error-proof registrations. It is not a perfect system and, at a minimum, not using very similar titles in different registrations is a good idea. On-line registration takes a few minutes, so why not go with different registrations as opposed to alternate titles? There are libraries that take no "back-end" revenue-- I'm in one like that. But it does have me scratching my head. License fees are shrinking every day, even approaching zero. Most of the time (unless there is a killer placement), the majority of revenue is back-end. So, I wonder about that business model. Regardless, good luck! I hope you get a placement-- that's what really matters!Best, Casey

[deantaylor]

Thanks Casey. I see your point. That is where I started out originally, before the idea of alternate titles hit me. Maybe I should go back to that. I think when the time comes I'll ask ASCAP what they think it best.On the non-retitling libraries ... Both library owners have told me in person that they do this because they think the non-exclusive, re-titling thing is illegal and will all come crashing down soon. They are both pretty thoughtful people. One is a lawyer by profession. I guess they think they can make money on just licensing fees. I don't know enough to comment either way.