Music Services Unlimited

Lisa Sutton: musicservicesultd@gmail.com or (615) 429-3201

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Licenses & Administration

The following services can be provided to MSU clients for the following additional fees:

 

Copyright Registrations

 

There are two separate copyrights involved in a master recording:

 

·         The copyright in the sound recording itself

 

·         The copyright in each musical composition on the sound recording

 

Although copyright exists from the moment of creation, proper registration is necessary for proper protection in any case of infringement.

 

Each registration done by MSU is a separate filing that requires both a registration fee to the US Copyright Office and a filing fee to MSU

 

Research registration fees and online vs. paper process

 

Mechanical Licenses

 

In the event you have recorded songs written by someone other than yourself, you must obtain a mechanical license for each song to avoid being in a position of copyright infringement yourself.

 

The statutory copyright rate in the United Sates is $.091 per song per record manufactured. 

 

These licenses must be requested from and fees paid to the publishing administrator of the song.  The Harry Fox Agency, Inc. represented over 80% of USA publishers and accepts credit card payments as well as checks.

 

In addition to the actual mechanical royalty payment, there is a filing fee paid to MSU.

 

Research Pay Pal

 

Performing Rights Registrations

 

If you wrote or co-wrote the songs you have recorded, you need to join a performing rights organization (PRO) in order to be eligible to receive public performance royalty income for the performance of your songs on radio and/or television. 

 

You can join a PRO as both a songwriter and as a publisher if your songs are self-published.

 

Research publishing company fee structure

 

 

Performing Rights Clearances

 

If you have already affiliated with one of the three major American PRO’s, ASCAP, BMI or SESAC, or if you are just now affiliating with one of them, you need to register each song for it to be eligible for royalty payments.

 

Research online registration procedures

 

Barcode Registration with Sound Scan

 

In order to be eligible for sales reporting from SoundScan, the agency that tracks USA sales of CD’s, Cassettes or Vinyl Recordings through retail scanning devices, you need to register your barcode with SoundScan.

 

Research SoundScan costs

 

Digital Tracking Number Encoding

 

In order to receive any royalties for digital plays on the internet or digital radio, you need to have each master recording digitally encoded for tracking purposes.

 

Research costs

 

 

Disclaimer

 

While Music Services Unlimited can provide you with these registration and filing services, Music Services does not warrant or guarantee that you will receive any royalties or future income as the result of any of MSU’s provided services.