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SONGWRITING
THE
GUILD OF INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITERS & COMPOSERS The
Guild of International Songwriters & Composers' services which are free
to all Guild members, include the songwriters copyright and intellectual property
registration service, The songwriters songwriting song assessment service, the
songwriters songwriting collaboration service, The songwriters songwriting advice,
consultancy, information and music industry contact service, the songwriters legal
contact service, the songwriters songwriting investigation service, Songwriting
& Composing Magazine and Songsearch for songwriting and songwriters SONGWRITING
COPYRIGHT AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY REGISTRATION SERVICE FOR SONGWRITERS
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INTERNATIONAL
SONGWRITING COPYRIGHT & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY REGISTRATION SERVICE FOR SONGWRITERS |
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SONGWRITERS
INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COPYRIGHT PROTECTION
The Copyright Service
provides lifetime copyright protection and peace of mind for songwriters and provides
the opportunity for songwriting and composing members of The Guild of International
Songwriters and Composers to register free with the Guild's Copyright
Registration Centre for copyright protection their songwriting and composing copyrights
and ownership of their own and any co-written (with
other Guild members)
works (songs/instrumentals)
copyrights & intellectual property rights FREE of charge, therefore,
safeguarding the Guild members songwriting copyright and other intellectual
copyrights.
A Copyright Certificate issued to the Guild member outlines
details of the copyrights registered on any specific date to help protect against
any copyright theft, claim, infringement or dispute. Copyright protection through
the Guild's members free Copyright Service can be used for the registration
of songs, instrumental themes, manuscripts, lyric sheets, paper documents, poetry,
traditional arrangements of songs/instrumentals, musicals, advertisements, spoken
word, literary (consisting of or occupied with books), musical tutorials, manuals,
literature or written composition, artistic, belletristic, poetic, dramatic, recorded
works, sound recordings such as demos, commercial releases, library recordings,
archive recordings, videos, films, etc, in formats to include cassette tape, DAT
(Digital Audio Tape), compact disc, vinyl, mini-disc, computer disk (floppy disk
/ CD ROM), VHS video, DVD.
The
Guild will supply where there is ever any copyright dispute certified information
and a copy of works registered with the Guild, as an official declaration of a
members registration, to solicitors, lawyers or any member's other legal representatives
in any country in the world where cases of copyright disputes
arise, to support our members' copyright registrations and claims.
Copyright
protection through the Guild's Copyright & Intellectual property rights witnessing
service is free to all members of The Guild of International Songwriters
& Composers who wish to protect their copyright & intellectual property
rights. How
much does the Guild's Copyright Service cost?
The Guild's
Copyright service
which is only available to Guild members is free service within the songwriters
and composers membership and can be used as many times as the Guild member wishes.
How
Long does the Guild's Copyright registration last? Once you
have registered your copyright (intellectual property rights) with
the Guild then you do not have to register the work with the Guild
again (unless there is a significant change to the work - songs/instrumentals).
Your certificate is proof of the registration and your claim is
held on our files as evidence of your registration.
Don't be fooled
into paying for further copyright registrations after a few years to some organisations,
companies or individuals who have set up a fee paying copyright registration service
at an expense per song. There is no need to do this. In the UK for instance your
copyright is valid for 70 years after your death where the work then passess into
Public Domain. Your membership to The Guild entitles you to register as many of
your works as you wish FREE of charge within your membership. The Guild's
Copyright Registration Centre has operated its copyright service for its members
for the past twenty five(25) years How
do I register my works with the Guild? Registration is extremely simple and
quick. All the information on how to use the free members copyright service
is outlined in the membership pack you receive when you become a member. Is
there any reason for me to register my works (songs/instrumentals)? Absolutely,
yes. Registration is evidence of your claim to the fact that you wrote the work
and that you have taken steps to identify yourself as the true legitimate owner
of the work(s) from a certain date in time. If you have a copyright case to defend
where someone has plagiarised/stolen your work, how are you going to prove that
you wrote it and that you are the legitimate owner of the work. The Guild's copyright
certificate is evidence that you took steps to register the work as your own and
that the intelectual property rights are yours. It is extremely important to protect
your copyrights which could be a valuable asset where royalty income/money is
being generated. I
have posted a copy of my works to myself, but have heard this referred to as a
poor persons copyright.
Mailing
a copy of the work(s) to yourself is not a good practice in itself. This type
of evidence is problematic If the packet/envelope is sealed with sellotape or
stapled then it could be argued that it has been opened and resealed, and could
be fake/corrupted evidence. We strongly advise against this type of registration
as a main registration but is good as a secondary back up to a main registration
in support. At
what point should I register my works for copyright? As
soon as you have finished writing / composing your song / instrumental and you
are satisfied that the work(s) is finished then the moment it is writen down (lyrics
/ manuscript) or recorded then that is the time to register your copyright. You
should do this as quickly as possible before it is given to anyone for any purpose. When
promoting my song / instrumentals should I undertake to do anything to help protect
my copyrights?
The main priority is to ensure that you keep a copy of the letter you have written
that you are sending with your demo, and to ensure that you get a certificate
of posting with the name of the person/company, to whom you are sending your copyrights.
Evidence that your work(s) is in circulation is very important. Always use the
copyright symbol ©
or the word copyright on your lyric sheets and recordings along with your name
and the year date. Ensure that you label everything (lyric sheets, manuscripts,
recording media i.e cassette, CD, DVD, Video etc and their cases) with you name,
address, telephone number and email contact.
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SONGWRITERS
SONGWRITING SONG ASSESSMENT SERVICE | | |
SONGWRITERS
SONGWRITING SONG ASSESSMENT SERVICE | | |
SONGWRITING
-It is important for songwriters, composers, lyricists and performing songwriters
to have a market direction in respect to their songwriting and/or performances.
Through the Guilds Song Assessment Service, Guild members have the opportunity
to have their own (and co-written works with other Guild members) songs, lyrics
and instrumental themes assessed and analysed free of charge. The Guild gives
opinions and advice as to the commercial value of songs, lyrics and instrumental
themes. The Guild offers advice on promotion and the chance of success in obtaining
a music publishing deal, record deal, management deal, development deal, and can
further advise on self-music publishing and the self-release of records, video
and DVDs. All songs, lyrics and instrumental themes sent to the Guilds Song
Assessment Service are analysed free of charge by A & R personnel in the Guilds
associated music publishing company and a written assessment is given. The songwriting
song assessment service is free to all members.
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SONGWRITERS
SONGWRITING COLLABORATION SERVICE | | |
SONGWRITERS
SONGWRITING COLLABORATION SERVICE | | |
SONGWRITING
- If you cannot write melodies or you cannot write lyrics then you may need someone
with whom to collaborate. The Guilds Collaboration Service can help members
get in touch with a composer member of the Guild or a lyricist member of the Guild
through the Guilds Collaboration register. If you wish to be included on
the Guilds lyricists/composers Collaboration Register then you can notify
the Guild by giving full particulars on the application form when applying for
membership. The songwriting collaboration service is free to all members.
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SONGWRITERS
SONGWRITING ADVICE, CONSULTANCY, INFORMATION AND MUSIC INDUSTRY CONTACT SERVICE |
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SONGWRITERS
SONGWRITING ADVICE, CONSULTANCY, INFORMATION AND MUSIC INDUSTRY CONTACT SERVICE |
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SONGWRITING
- There are many aspects of the music industry on which songwriters, composers,
lyricists and performing songwriters require knowledge, information, advice and
consultancy. Understanding songwriting, music publishing, recording, management,
producer contracts-the right to receive money as royalty payments and advance
money in respect to the exploitation of copyrights-signing contracts/agreements-negotiating
music publishing, recording, management, production agreements-foreign and sub-publishing
deals, how to contact music publishers, record companies, management companies,
artistes and music industry personnel-music on the Internet-synchronisation and
the licensing of copyrights for television, film and advertising, distribution,
major companies versus independent companies, the role of the music publisher,
licensing deals, song plugging, song promotions, copyright protection, sampling
and the right to use samples ,artistes rights, songwriters rights,
performers' rights, MP3, WAV, Internet, online promotions, distributions, mechanical
royalties, public performance royalties, who pays the money, your royalties and
your right to the money, protecting your name, preserving your identity ,collection
rights societies/organisations, knowing about the Mechanical Copyright Protection
Society (MCPS), the Performing Right Society (PRS), Phonographic Performance Ltd
(PPL), Video Performance Ltd (VPL), ASCAP, BMI, Harry Fox, TONO, GEMA BUMA-STEMRA,
etc, etc, the digital revolution, Digital Service Providers (DSP's), Digital aggregators,
distributors (digital and physical distribution), song contests, facebook, myspace,
and, in fact, understanding the many various aspects of the music business in
general-whatever your requirements and needs in respect to information and advice
then the Advice, Consultancy, Information and Contact Service is available to
Guild members. This service is free to all members.
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SONGWRITERS
SONGWRITING LEGAL CONTACT SERVICE | | |
SONGWRITERS
SONGWRITING LEGAL CONTACT SERVICE | | |
SONGWRITING
-The Guild can assist members with contacts for specialist legal advisors if the
need arises. Songwriters, composers, lyricists and performing songwriters may
also wish to consult with a solicitor in respect to examining contracts offered
by music publishers, record companies, management companies, etc. However, the
Guild can advise on any agreement/contract a Guild member has been offered with
regard to its validity, to ensure that the agreement/contract offered is not devoid
of necessary statement and clauses, which may make it unfair. Any agreement offered
should be fair and reasonable to protect the Guild members interests. This
service is free to all members.
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SONGWRITERS
SONGWRITING INVESTIGATION SERVICE | | |
SONGWRITERS
SONGWRITING INVESTIGATION SERVICE | | |
SONGWRITING
- It is important for
you as a songwriter, composer, lyricist and/or performing songwriter to know that
you are dealing with reputable people and companies. The Guild can advise you
in respect to the persons or company with which you intend to work and to any
practices which are deemed to be unfair, a restraint of trade or a restrictive
practice. The Guild can act as arbitrator between a Guild member and any other
party, if required. We can also advise you relating to the right to receive money
by way of royalties for any use of your songs. This service is free to
all members.
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SONGWRITING
AND COMPOSING MAGAZINE | | |
SONGWRITING
AND COMPOSING MAGAZINE | | |
SONGWRITING
- The Guild of International Songwriters and Composers has been publishing Songwriting
and Composing magazine quarterly since 1986. It is issued free to members of the
Guild. Throughout each year Songwriting and Composing magazine contains reviews,
articles, profiles, information and details on music publishers, record companies,
management companies, production companies, artistes, songwriters, contact information
on music publishers seeking songs and instrumental themes, record companies seeking
artistes, management companies seeking acts for development, Collaboration Register
contacts and details, Topics News and Songsearch, song contests, Guild members,
and other general information. Songwriting and Composing magazine is free
to all members.
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SONGSEARCH
FOR SONGWRITING & SONGWRITERS | | |
SONGSEARCH
FOR SONGWRITING AND SONGWRITERS | | |
SONGWRITING - Song
Search is part of the Guilds Songwriting and Composing magazine and throughout
each year outlines the requirements of music publishers, record companies, management
companies, artistes, producers, etc seeking new songs, artistes and recordings.
Songwriting and Composing magazine is free to all members.
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SONGWRITING
DEMONSTRATION RECORDING SERVICE FOR SONGWRITERS |
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SONGWRITINGS
DEMONSTRATION RECORDING SERVICE FOR SONGWRITERS |
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SONGWRITING - Members
can have their songs recorded for promotion to music publishers, record companies,
management companies, artistes, song contests, etc. Demo recordings are produced
to a professional studio standard suitable for promotional purposes from Guild
members basic recordings or manuscripts by Songwriting, Composing and Musical
Productions who have been serving Guild members with their demo productions and
arrangements of songs and compositions since 1988. A Guild of International Songwriters
& Composers service to the Guild's songwriting and composing members.
Link
to the Guild as a friend on myspace - visit: myspace.com/guildofsongwriters A
successful 2010 and 2011 for songwriters' songwriting royalties
Over
£545m of songwriting and publishing royalties were paid to PRSforMusic songwriter,
composer and publisher members in 2010. For the first time PRSforMusic's revenue
has topped £600 million, which is an amazing achievement. PRSforMusic’s record
results have seen: Licensing revenue growth of 8% on 2009. Double digit growth
in three of our four licensing areas effective licensing of new online services
Growth of 9% in net distributable revenue on 2008.
The PRSforMusic's July
2011 distribution totalled just over £91million. In total the PRSforMusic
July 2011 distribution contained more than 2,274 separate usage sources,
generating 126million transactions. There were some 35million unique performanmces
during the quarter made up of 674,905 distinct works to include Guild
members works. The
PRSforMusic October 2011 royalty distribution totalled just over £127 million
to its publisher and writer members. In total the October 2011 royalty distribution
contains more than 2,400 separate usage sources, generating 109 million transactions.
There were some 37 million unique performances during the quarter, made up of
more than 8000,000 distinct works.
Songwriting and publishing royalties are a substantial source of income.
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