JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Mentor Questions Forum How does the pie get cut up?

Hi All,

I've been approached to release one of my demos for radio airplay, and digital downloads. I know about owning the rights to the master, and the work for hire question. What I need to now, is exactly how much of a percentage goes to the songwriter/publisher, the producer, the artist etc.? Does anyone know, or know where I can find out? I have a call in to BMI, but they haven't responded yet. I'd apreciate any help I can get. Thanks.

Hey John.

The songwriter/publisher should be paid by the label for the mechanical royalty, the standard fee is 9.1cents per unit to be sold. If they're pressing up a thousand cds, they should pay you ninety one bucks. This is a negotiable figure, you could ask for more or less.

The artist/label (and if it's an artist by themselves, then they are the label) should pay you something for your tracks. The artist's producer has no business relation to you, any money they get as producer comes from the artist and label, they don't pay you anything (the artist/label already did...if the artist/label/producer are the same it makes no difference).

The producer of your demo may require a fee to upgrade the production to a master (a demo may not be sold, a master may be sold). Since I'm the producer in this case, we've already spoken.

None of this, of course, affects the ownership or rights of you as songwriter or publisher.

Hi Mike,

Thanks for responding. This will probably never get to the CD stage. What I'm looking for is how radio airplay, and digital downloads get cut up in percentages. I know there is a set price every time a song plays on the radio, and you set your own prices for downloads.

John,

Radio play is paid for by the radio station to the PRO, then it goes to the writer. Check with your PRO to find out how they figure the rate you get (if any, good luck ). I don't know the legality of downloads, but I'm looking at releasing a cover song myself for download, and it looks to me like the Harry Fox Agency wants the same amount per download as it does per unit sold. If it is the same as it is for cds, you can negotiate your own deal with them for a different amount.

Hope that helps.

Mike

Hi Mike,

Thanks for stopping back. I think I'm going to have to break down, and spend the time it takes to get someone on the phone from BMI to give me the breakdown. Thanks again.

John,
Just for fun... here's the "short" answer to your question.
"You cut the pie, I pick the first piece!"

Michael