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Do you have something you would like to
voice an opinion about. Each month we consider various articles
you can submit or publish anonymously
on a variety of topics
that may be of interest to our readers. Let's hear what you
have to say... Maybe others want to hear it too?
Please contact us if you would like to share your thoughts at info@MetroMusicMayhem.com.
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How many musicians/songwriters have thought
“I wonder how much more time I could devote to writing/production
if I didn’t have to think about securing funding or
the legal side of the business?” Think about it. Beyond
booking gigs, arranging radio airplay, developing merchandise,
promotion, recording, securing P.A equipment, the average
musician will focus a large amount of their time on getting
signed to labels, so they can secure the amount of funding
they need, to go out on tour, or create a music video, or
record a full length CD versus a promotional EP.
funding
sources available: (without being signed to a label):
Without consulting an Entertainment Lawyer, Band Manager
or Agent, the average musician does not know about how
to secure funding sources, on an independent level.
A producer will not tell a musician these critical details
either – they expect the musician to know about
these relevant things.
Copyright: Unfortunately,
the average musician does not know much about the legal
aspects of the music industry, and I have found that
even more musicians do not even know how to get their
music copywritten in the United States! Just think –
if an artist had an international distribution deal,
they could really lose out on their “fair share”
of percentages, regarding copyright royalties, if they
don’t own their Copyright, in advance.
International
Distribution: Does the average musician know there are
different “statutes” (rules) on Copyright
and Publishing in each different country of the world?
My guess is probably not. Which again, would put the
musician in the position of “ oh, I don’t
get publishing royalties in Denmark or Germany because
I did not own my copyright – the publisher does?!”
Merchandise: Every
smart independent band has some. With an existing inventory
of band merchandise, it is possible to secure (solicit)
merchandise sponsorship, if an international tour is
already booked, and confirmed. Aside from income generated
from live performances, merchandise is what “recoupment”
is all about. Typically, merchandise involves a logo,
or a brand. Into that picture comes trademark issues
– another related legal topic.
Most musicians are incredibly talented,
and by rights, should be able to focus on the most important
thing – writing good original music. I mean, when
it comes down to the business end of things –
the bottom line is this: how else does a band get noticed
by the general public?! From their songs….I feel
that Artist Development has “disappeared”
in light of the massive product branding that has occurred
in the music industry, and that Artist Development is
a critical topic, that needs to be re-addressed, as
a critical focus in the music industry.
Written by the owner of a Canadian Independent
Record Label, who has worked with entertainment law
for over 16 years, and has been a musician for over
forty years.
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Ms. Linda Marie Sekulic
President Pop Records Inc
Listed in Music BC Business Directory
When I think about kids watching a TV show
like American Idol or The Voice, then they think, ‘Oh,
OK, that’s how you become a musician, you stand in line
for e...ight fucking hours with 800 people at a convention
center and… then you sing your heart out for someone
and then they tell you it’s not fuckin’ good enough.’
Can you imagine?” he implores. “It’s destroying
the next generation of musicians!
Musicians should go to a yard sale and buy
and old fucking drum set and get in their garage and just
suck. And get their friends to come in and they’ll suck,
too. And then they’ll fucking start playing and they’ll
have the best time they’ve ever had in their lives and
then all of a sudden they’ll become Nirvana. Because
that’s exactly what happened with Nirvana. Just a bunch
of guys that had some shitty old instruments and they got
together and started playing some noisy-ass shit, and they
became the biggest band in the world. That can happen again!
You don’t need a fucking computer or the internet or
The Voice or American Idol.”
by David Ackert, LA Times
"Singers and Musicians are some of
the most driven, courageous people on the face of
the earth. They deal with more day-to-day rejection
in one year than most people do in a lifetime. Every
day, they face the financial challenge of living a
freelance lifestyle, the disrespect of people who
think they should get real jobs, and their own fear
that they'll never work again.
Every day, they have to ig...nore
the possibility that the vision they have dedicated
their lives to is a pipe dream. With every note, they
stretch themselves, emotionally and physically, risking
criticism and judgment. With every passing year, many
of them watch as the other people their age achieve
the predictable milestones of normal life - the car,
the family, the house, the nest egg.
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musicians
and singers are willing to give their entire lives
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Why? Because musicians
and singers are willing to give their entire lives to
a moment - to that melody, that lyric, that chord, or
that interpretation that will stir the audience's soul.
Singers and Musicians
are beings who have tasted life's nectar in that crystal
moment when they poured out their creative spirit and
touched another's heart. In that instant, they were
as close to magic, God, and perfection as anyone could
ever be. And in their own hearts, they know that to
dedicate oneself to that moment is worth a thousand
lifetimes.” |
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The views, opinions, positions
or strategies expressed by the authors and those providing
comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily
reflect the views, opinions, positions or strategies
of Metro Music Mayhem. We make no representations
as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability,
or validity of any information contained within and
will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays
in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages
arising from its use.
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