Music Biz

Why is the writer’s share from PRO income always paid directly to the writer?

To ensure that songwriters receive fair compensation and retain control over their earnings. This is a legal and contractual safeguard that prevents publishers from withholding the writer’s rightful share.

What kind of license is used for a licensed recording?

master use license (for the sound recording) and a synchronization license (for visual media usage, like TV/film).

Five Streams of Income for a Music Publisher

• Performance royalties

• Mechanical royalties

• Sync licensing fees

• Print music royalties

• Micro-sync (YouTube, TikTok, etc.)
  

Qualities to Look for in a Music Business Partner

• Trustworthiness and transparency

• Good communication

• Industry knowledge and experience

• Shared vision/goals

• Reliability under pressure

Roles of a Music Supervisor in TV/Film

• Selecting and licensing songs

• Hiring composers/producers

• Overseeing the music budget

• Ensuring music matches emotional/tonal needs of scenes

What Do Music Attorneys Do for Clients?

• Negotiate and draft contracts

• Handle copyright and publishing rights

• Offer legal advice on branding, trademarks, and disputes

• Secure and negotiate record/publishing deals

360 Deal: What Is It and Why Avoid It?

• A 360 deal gives a label a cut of all artist revenue streams (touring, merch, endorsements, etc.).

• Artists may shy away because it reduces their income and gives too much control to labels.

Music Safety / Health Issues (Name 2)

• Crowd control issues (stampedes, overcrowding)

• Personal injury (falling onstage, equipment accidents)

• Others: Hearing loss, overheating, fatigue

Why Might a Music Organization Be Non-Profit?

• Focus on community outreach, education, and access to the arts

• Benefits: tax exemptions, grants/funding eligibility, public goodwill

Common Expenses in a Music Event Budget

• Venue rental

• Equipment rentals

• Permits & insurance

• Artist fees

• Security

• Marketing
  
  

Contingency fund (~10-15% of total budget)

Useful AI Tasks in the Music Business

• Music recommendation algorithms

• Auto-tagging and metadata

• AI-generated music drafts

• Audience engagement analysis

 Fears Around AI in Music

• Job displacement (producers, composers)

• Originality concerns and plagiarism

• Lack of emotional depth

• Devaluation of human creativity

What is a Derivative Work? Who Can Copyright It?

• A derivative work is based on or adapted from an existing work (e.g., remix, translation, parody).

• Only the original copyright holder can authorize and copyright a derivative work.

Pros & Cons of Music Aggregators

• Pros: Easy distribution to platforms (Spotify, Apple Music), analytics, monetization tools

• Cons: Fees (flat or %), limited control over platform strategy

Choosing: Consider pricing model, payout terms, customer service, rights management