Best way to copyright and sell music?

[SlicK]

I write instrumental music and I want to sell it on the internet. I will focus on selling so called leasing rights and exclusive rights.

I have researched on copyrighting my work in my country and it's way too expensive. U.S. Copyright Office would be much more convenient for me but is it ok? I mean if I'm from Europe, can I copyright my music there?

When I sell the music, what's the best way to transfer full rights if someone buys the exclusive license? Sending a written and signed contract seems like a good idea to me but that takes some time. Is there a good way to do it online?

I'm in over my head. If someone enlightens me I will be forever grateful

[cobaltblue09]

If you plan on making a living doing this, I suggest that you hire yourself an Intellectual Property attorney, especially someone familiar with the music business. The rules are different in every country. There are laws affecting the master production and written score. At the very least, you'll need a lawyer to draft your agreements.

[Harald]

I have no idea. I have no idea how to make decent money as a musician today without playing live all the time - and even that isn't great anymore. I'm a musician (hobbyist) myself and have many musician friends who have lost their livelihoods because of the thieves that use the internet to steal their music. And I don't see it stopping anytime soon, unfortunately.

Setting up something like what you're talking about is of course possible, but few people make much money doing it.

Luckily, there are lots of other ways to make money besides music!

[SlicK]

Setting up something like what you're talking about is of course possible, but few people make much money doing it.

Few people make it in any area.. there's always a FEW. Ambition, talent, a true desire, quality of work, promoting yourself, trusting yourself are a few qualities that will set you apart from the others in the long run.

Stealers will steal, buyers will buy. The stealing part doesn't bother me much personally. It is unavoidable and a good sign that you're doing quality work. The thing is that I want the buyer to have the comfort of knowing that what he buys is HIS. The bad thing that can happen is that somebody steals from me, then he sells it to someone, then I sell it to someone and.. you can imagine what a problem this is if there is no official way of proving who is the owner of the material.

[Brutha]

Sending a written and signed contract seems like a good idea to me but that takes some time. Is there a good way to do it online?

Who do you want to sell to? How do they want to buy?

When I sell the music, what's the best way to transfer full rights if someone buys the exclusive license? Sending a written and signed contract seems like a good idea to me but that takes some time. Is there a good way to do it online?

Self respecting artists in Germany or France won't give away full rights in their contracts. I don't even know whether you can legally write a contract that would do such a thing.

[ar81]

I compose computer music as a hobbyist.
I made music for a charity project, it allowed me to be known in a very classy circle in London and Latin America.
When it is for free, rights do not matter too much.
I prefer it that way.
I did not take the ordinary path of becoming a slave of a record company.

[BitterFlower]

Originally Posted by cobaltblue09

If you plan on making a living doing this, I suggest that you hire yourself an Intellectual Property attorney, especially someone familiar with the music business. The rules are different in every country. There are laws affecting the master production and written score. At the very least, you'll need a lawyer to draft your agreements.

This.

My husband and bio father are both musicians. My husband also creates music for singers and rappers. They both have had their music on commercials in various areas around the country. I know a bit about US copyright laws from them, but I'm just not sure about any other country.

My husband keeps generic contracts on file and updates it for the artist, whether exclusive or non-exclusive. They have use of the music (mp3 file or CD), and not use of the original score/program file. Also, if the artist records the song in the studio (my husband's or someone else's), the studio has ownership of the masters unless otherwise specified.

But yeah, I would check your country's laws and get a lawyer if you are really that unsure. It's worth it to be prepared beforehand. In the US, not only do you copyright your music, but you also have to register with either ASCAP or BMI to get your royalties. I wasn't in contact with my bio father or dating my husband during the registration process, but I understand that they had their registration in place, then copyrighted their music, then shopped their music.

Hope to help with my second-hand info lol. I'm about to copyright some of my music also within the next year, so I'm learning the process myself.

[SlicK]

Who do you want to sell to? How do they want to buy?

Rappers, R&B singers. They buy paying by paypal or credit card (if that's what you meant with that question)

Self respecting artists in Germany or France won't give away full rights in their contracts. I don't even know whether you can legally write a contract that would do such a thing.

Maybe I exagerated saying "full rights". By that I mean that the artist can do whatever he wants with the instrumental if he buys an exclusive license. He can sell 1 million copies, he can remix it, whatever. In a face to face sell, things are much more flexible. You can discuss about royalties, you can sell at a lower price if the artist is famous and he can promote you, you can sell at a higher price if the artist is famous but he doesn't want to promote you. On the internet it's less flexible.

I made music for a charity project, it allowed me to be known in a very classy circle in London and Latin America.
When it is for free, rights do not matter too much.
I prefer it that way.
I did not take the ordinary path of becoming a slave of a record company.

I have other projects for free. I don't plan on becoming a slave of a record company either. No amount of money is worth selling yourself.

My husband keeps generic contracts on file and updates it for the artist, whether exclusive or non-exclusive.

I've got some contracts too, but that's what I don't understand. I mean, face to face it's pretty simple. He reads the contract, I sign, he signs. But on the internet? How the heck do you sign a contract online??
Signing a contract here and sending it to the artist after he pays is the best idea I have so far.

Well, I guess a lawyer will clarify my problems. Thanks for the answers!

[BitterFlower]

^^^I have a thought. I've googled a couple of sites for you to check out. They allow you to sell beats using their service. I'm not recommending either service, I just wanted you to check out their websites and see how they set up their contracts. They use paypal and their structure seems pretty simple. I've heard of beatswagger before and haven't heard about any problems as far as their customer service. There is also Buy Rap Beats For Sale | Hip Hop Instrumentals: Beats4tracks.com. HTH

[SlicK]

Thanks a lot for your willingness to help BitterFlower. I honestly appreciate it.

[emilymc]

In regards to your question about copyright, you should take a look at Proof of Ownership and Compliance. I live in Ireland and I use it to register my work. It's a service that uses digital fingerprinting to provide a time stamped certificate proving your ownership of the work. Check it out anyway and see if it's of any use to you.