Tracking if your music is being used overseas?
Question by Green Mayhem: Tracking if your music is being used overseas?
I’m a lyricist who made vocal melodies and also sung on a couple of songs for a musician and “music producer” online. We did everything online, he sent me his mp3 instrumentals and I used Adobe Audition to add my vocal tracks. He liked it at first but said that his record company wasn’t sure that they wanted to work with me. We had a fallen out and since he’s asked me to drop my vocals and lyrics and not use his music and/or add his name to anything. He’s also deleted sites where the songs were published, well it’s still in the archives. Before I met him he was talking about being a ghostwriter for a very famous singer and that his boss would sell some of his work overseas. Is their anyway, that I would be able to track if my work is still being used as a demo, that he just changed some of the ideas around, took my name off of it and sold it overseas after changing the name? How would I ever be able to track that? After I got to know him, and from the beginning I wanted to keep things professional and get contracts but he always came up with an excuse, I really feel like I may have gotten taken for a ride. Any thoughts or recommendations would really help.
Best answer:
Answer by ICEWATER7
Hi, I’m a Professional Music Producer, Songwriter and Label Owner. I’ve been in the Music Business for about 11 years and have worked with many famous artists. Are you a member of a Performing Rights Organization? If not, you should be.
Performing Rights Organizations (P.R.O.) like BMI, ASCAP, and SESAC here in the U.S. monitor and track all instances in which a published work (song) is used. When you’re a member of a P.R.O. you get quarterly reports on everywhere your music has been used (regardless of the country) from outlets like Television, Radio, Shows, etc. – They track them all.
Also, you should always have your music copyrighted with the U.S. Copyright Office before you send it to anyone and you should always sign Writer Share Agreements, also known as Split Sheets (signed by both parties) either when you write with someone else or once serious business talks begin between you and a producer about actually using (publishing) your lyrics and melodies.
I have created a FREE online resource for aspiring writers, producers, artists, etc. to help them break into the music business while avoiding the pitfalls I had to endure. There is a wealth of information for writers including all of the Performing Rights Organizations in the world and links to their websites, information on how to copyright your works and downloadable Split Sheets. Check it out. http://www.breakinin.com. Also, check out my blog at http://www.breakinin.com/blog
As far as finding out if he is using your lyrics/melodies (without your having a performing rights organization) I would search the name of the song or if he changed the name, search for a line of the song (from the verse or hook) in Google to see if it returns any results. If it does turn out he is using your material and you have copyrighted it, have an attorney send the webmaster of the site a cease and desist letter and they will remove it from their site.
It will be nearly impossible to be sure your works aren’t being used as a demo elsewhere (outside of the internet) and as such I will chalk this up as a learning experience. Think of yourself as an endless reservoir of lyrics, melodies and talent. If he is using your copyrighted material and it blows up as a hit on the radio, let him do it and then sue. If it isn’t copyrighted, just forget about it and continue making great music but, of course, next time it will be copyrighted and there will be split sheets signed by both/all parties involved. I hope this helps and I wish you success on your journey in the music business!!!
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