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Need help with PRS, Copyright, Publishing and Record Companies, etc.?
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Need help with PRS, Copyright, Publishing and Record Companies, etc.?

Question by trivium_rock500: Need help with PRS, Copyright, Publishing and Record Companies, etc.?
Hey, I am the frontman of an unsigned metal band and I was told by a friend of mine who works in a guitar shop that I should join PRS, as they would help us out if someone ripped our stuff off.

I’ve looked on their website and it all confuses me WAY too much with all the royalties, shares, percentages, how they pay your producer “X” amount, how they pay your publisher “X” amount, and how you would talk to them for gigs, purchase licences, etc, and it’s REALLY starting to confuse me because I understand NONE of it. D:

What do publishers do and where can I find them?
How would I go about copyrighting our music and lyrics?
How does the standard record company work, in terms of contracts, deals, average cuts, album support, tour support, etc?

These are all things I seriously need help with, but in words I can understand. And as simply as possible, haha.

If anyone can help, it would be really appreciated.

Thanks,
Alex.

P.S. I live in the UK, so I need answers relating to UK publishers and copyrighters, etc. The record label answers can be about any of them, as they’re all gonna be roughly the same.

Also, if this has to go in the Law section rather than the Music section, let me know. ^_^

Best answer:

Answer by mike
Copyright music is easy just cd a copy of music in tangible form (a cd) to the copyright office in the Uk, I live in the U.S so the form is probably different. Basically explaining who worked on record it will explain who should get royalties for the production of the record.

As far as contracts, deals, average cuts, album support, tour support there is no set format on how this works because of cd sales being low sometimes labels dip into tour sales even merchandise sales. Can’t really help you here. its a huge question and is based on the kind of record deal you make it varies so. What I am saying is you your label your attorney and your account work the math and set the deal.

As far as publisher the record label or artist can decide on this one and its very important too because it depicts the % of royalties you make.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!