Several times a week, we get asked the question, “Will someone steal my music if I put it on the Internet? Or, Is it secure?”
Audio is not secure on the Internet. Audio files can be made secure, but during playback, the audio itself is vulnerable. As long as there are two cables running out of the back of a computer, a copy can be made in five minutes. It’s currently impossible to stop this with modern technology. Companies have embedded watermarks in files so they can track when it’s moving on the Web, but that doesn’t stop the piracy, it just attempts to track it. Other companies have developed brilliant software to protect the files, but not the audio.
I guess the big question really is, Do you want people to access your music without compensating you? I’m not suggesting one way or the other is right for you. Only you can determine this.
A friend of mine was telling me the story of a well-known band that was dropped from a label three weeks before their tour was to begin, but kept the rights to their recently finished album. Uncertain about their future, they decided to give away their new record on all of their fan sites for free. Some thought they were nuts. In fact, everyone did. For the first time in their history, they sold out every venue and ended up selling loads of physical copies at their concerts. Merchandising was up, sales were up and the fans got the music for free.
This is just one example of the possibilities the Web can offer. Because most of us will take music when it’s given to us, it makes sense this strategy worked. I’m not suggesting you give away your music, I’m just suggesting that you should consider it as a marketing tool, especially if you’re touring.
Years ago I was given a CD by a label. The CD was a singer/songwriter named Todd Snider who was signed to this label. I listened to his record and thought, “Someone just got bumped off of my list of ten must-have albums on a desert isle.” I wore it out. I passed it around the office and the entire staff was blown away with this guy as well. We noticed that he was going to be in town and 12 of us went to the show. Every single person who didn’t have a copy of the CD bought one that night. In fact, a visiting music attorney from New York City attended with us and has told me several times how many people he has told about this guy, and this story.
These aren’t really amazing stories. Long before recorded music, musicians made their living playing live. And if you’re primarily a live performer, you might want to consider using your songs to sell tickets. It might just work. Promotions could begin at local record shops
As in:
“(c)**date** , Your Name (or the ‘name’ you chose as your music’s ‘tag’(i,e., ‘Publishing Name’: “It’s Mine” Music, Inc.)”
“Lyrics and Music By—” This one is simple. ALWAYS credit yourself, or whoever wrote the song. Not only is it proper respect, but it’s a ’safety measure’ against ANYONE who would record it and call it their own.
“Label Exclusive”: for all of us ‘unsigned artists’, dig this: You are your OWN ‘Label’ (especially if you have more than one song). Examples could be ‘Your Name records’ or ‘Your Publishing Name records.) This also works if you’re ’signed’: Said ‘Major Label’ must also include your tag–meaning you can take your songs ANYWHERE you see fit (Example: David Bowie’s MAINMAN Prod. Originally signed to RCA, Bowie took his catalog WITH HIM when he left in 1985, because he owned the rights. MAINMAN Prod. only used RCA to distribute the records–get it?)
Finally, and most important, is this phrase:
“All Rights Reserved.” Meaning, if someone wants to record your song, they’ll have to either credit and/or contact you to get the go ahead (and PAY you ‘royalties’ if you hook up with BMI or ASCAP.).
So, to put it simply, by ‘Siging Your Song’, it should look like this:
SONG TITLE: Yours
ARTIST:You
LYRICS AND/OR MUSIC: You
(c): Whatever year written and/or recorded
‘PUBLISHER’: You (’publishing name’, if you choose)
‘LABEL’: Your ‘Label name’
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
And, that should just be the basics. You ONLY need a Lawyer when you get signed by some huge conglomerate. But, for us small guys, this alone is security.
Hey What do you mean by “sign” your songs? I think I get the idea but I’m wondering if you know something I don’t know. Thanks
Well, as ANY of us on Broadjam.com know first hand, it’s HARD to get new music out there. And it’s not for a loss of trying. It’s just this ‘corporation’ or that ‘conglomerate’ spoon-feeding everyone what ‘we must hear’/'we must have’/'we must want’/'we must get’—–
you know where I’m going with this, don’t you?
Then, there are those who, like me, have held onto our master tapes (be they Studio Pro, or home cassettes) and want to release them whenever they see fit. I have held onto MY cassette masters for over 20 years–just releasing them now on Broadjam!–mainly out of frustration for not having anyone to give me a chance back-in-the-day, but at the same time because it’s something I accomplished.
It may be too late to make some serious money off of these tracks, but if I do, then great. If I don’t, but folks download them out of curiosity, then even better. Why? Because, it’s exposure. And that’s more important than worrying about anyone who’s gonna steal your music.
To solve that problem, you must ‘Sign’ your songs(always with Songwriter/Composer, ‘Publisher’-which is YOU, and ‘Label-exclusive’–also YOU!). It’s a little trick I learned back in the day. After all, that ’sound’ is yours.