Selling your music in Itunes (and other online stores)

[Davey]

Basically, selling your music online.

I know you have to get an UPC code for your song/album (if anyone has recommendations, where to get them for a reasonable amount of money, that isn't a scam.. we only found CD Baby after a half minute search on the subject)
Also (this is actually the big-er question in the matter), does the UPC code cover copyright, internationally.


The thing is, we want to put some stuff on Youtube and also sell it on iTunes and similar sites, but we're not quite sure how to tackle the copyright. If we go to .. uhh.. it's kind of the equivalent of the RIAA over here, BUT the catch is, they're basically an insurance company, but with the difference, you NEVER see anything from them, EVER (i've seen them threaten to sue performers over their own songs) so we want to avoid those thieving sacks of shite.
An alternative is, that we go to a small label and try to get signed there, BUT knowing the state of the music industry and market in this country, i know we wont get anywhere with that bit.
So we would like to go the route of doing everything ourselves for the time being (promo and distro), which brings me back to the UPC code stuff.
Could someone who released their music on iTunes explain this? As in depth as possible, if you could.

Thanks

[Roobubba]

We used CDBaby to sort it all out. I say "we", but actually it was out sound engineer who did all  of that, who also happens to run www.rivetgunrecords.co.uk
I'd ask him (his name is Tim Lovegrove) about it, he was, and remains, very very helpful to 13Gauge! (he is also a mate of the band, and the guitarist in our drummer's other band, Junkie Brush)

[Davey]

ookay... back to this..

Where to legitimately copyright the music? In europe. I found SongRite.eu and would like to know if someone used them before, or where did you copyright your music/lyrics wtc.

[Roobubba]

This is my understanding of copyright:

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To copyright anything, you need to append the word 'copyright' or international copyright symbol (c in a circle), with your name(s) and a date (year is sufficient).

That's it, you don't need to pay for copyright, it's not awarded by an external entity.
------

Now the legal stuff: the above is my understanding, I have no legal training nor have I read (recently) any literature on copyright laws either in the UK nor internationally. As always, take my words with a very large pinch of salt (unless I'm talking about the Beatw@ts or telecasters or traffic wardens or middle lane drivers, etc!).


Hope this helps

Roo

[Davey]

nnno, not really..
the thing you're copyrighting, needs to be on record somewhere with a date (year alone is not sufficient), so just writing "this is copyrighted" doesn't do anything.
What you're paying for is, in the case of copyright infringement, they help you out and you don't have to spend your cash on lawyers n' stuff, and they keep the songs/lyrics on record.

what people have done, is take the cd to a notary, have them write a note saying this and this has been done on that and that date, then put it in an envelope, seal it and sent it to themselves. as that is pretty valid, it doesn't really help you claim your copyright more than once (unless you send more envelopes to yourself), cos you void it once you open the package.

[darkbluemurder]

what people have done, is take the cd to a notary, have them write a note saying this and this has been done on that and that date, then put it in an envelope, seal it and sent it to themselves. as that is pretty valid, it doesn't really help you claim your copyright more than once (unless you send more envelopes to yourself), cos you void it once you open the package.

It's basically a means to demonstrate that you have documented a certain piece to be written by you at a date certified by a notary. So if anybody claims to have written a tune which sounds remarkably close to yours you can document that yours was written earlier. Best to ask a lawyer specialized in copyright law though.

Cheers Stephan

[Davey]

you guys are NOT helping.

i don't need a definition of what copyright is, i asked a simple question.. is songrite a GOOD website to go copyright music on.

[darkbluemurder]

i asked a simple question.. is songrite a GOOD website to go copyright music on.

I don't know - never had any experience with them.

Sorry to be of no further help.

Stephan

[Roobubba]

Thanks for trying to help out Roo, wasn't quite what I was after but I appreciate you taking the time to try to help me out.

No worries mate.

:/

[Roobubba]

While I'm at it, here's a link to the UK Copyright Service factsheet about music copyright.

<p><a href="http://www.copyrightservice.co.uk/protect/p07_music_copyright" title="Music Copyright">Music Copyright</a> fact sheet from UK Copyright Service.</p>

They may have links to help you with your specific question about what you need to do and whether certain sites offer anything useful to your particular needs.

Or they might not, and I really couldn't give a flying $%&#.

I hope this helps.

Roo

[HTH AMPS]

if you haven't already, join the Musicians Union - you will get all the help you need from those guys.

[AngusYoung01]

To get ACTUAL publishing copyrights, you need to register your tracks with the PRS.

[Davey]

PRS? 

also.. not in the UK here.

[FredD]

if you haven't already, join the Musicians Union - you will get all the help you need from those guys.

+1  8)

[Toe-Knee]

PRS?  

also.. not in the UK here.

i think its performing rights society or something like that

edit: yeah it is heres the link

http://www.prsformusic.com/Pages/default.aspx

Im  not sure if it applies though i havent looked through it i just remember the logo and name for some reason