The following are links to articles on various topics of the music business:
ASCAP vs BMI:
Todd Brabec, former executive for the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), talks about the differences between ASCAP and BMI. One of the main differences is ASCAP is a writer and publisher owned organization dedicated to enforcing the copyright law, while BMI is a corporation owned by the broadcasting industry. The two organizations also differ in other ways such as payment formulas. Writers have to join one or the other. (Source: Artists House Music)
HOW INDIE MUSIC IS COMPETING WITH THE MAJORS:
This article features comments of Tommy Silverman of Tommy Boy Records, touching upon the modern payola scandal of the majors, the proposition of having commercial radio play a percentage of independent music (such as a daily local music hour), and the power indie labels have when joining together. (Source: www.wired.com)
MORE THAN 12,000 INDIE LABELS BEING REPRESENTED AS A WHOLE:
Merlin, a non-profit agency representing independent record labels and distributors, is helping to bring indies the clout needed to compete with the majors. (Source: www.wired.com)
MUSIC PUBLISHING, COPYRIGHT, & TYPES OF LICENSES:
Music Dealers provides basic information about what music publishing is and how money is generated by musical compositions, touching on copyright, types of licenses (syncronization and mechanical), and the differences between a record label and a publisher. (Source: Music Dealers)
USING TWITTER TO HELP YOUR MARKETING:
Amanda Palmer of the Dresden Dolls talks about how to make money on your own using your tweets and creativity. (Source: Berkely Music Blogs)
RECORD LABEL DEALS:
This article touches on what a record label deal is all about and what to look out for. (Source: Music Biz Academy)
WHAT IS A MECHANICAL LICENSE?
George Howard, former president of Rykodisc Records and founder of Slow River Records, provides in depth details of mechanical licenses, discussing how mechanical licenses make money, how revenue is collected, and the "controlled composition clause" that reduces the mechanical royalty rate. (Source: Artist House Music)
