Re: OT: Pay royalties for own music on own website?

[jayrope LD <jrploopers@kliklak.net>]

Hi Buzap.
I think the issue is a bit broader then it seems. The fundamental  
difference is, that not only you, but everyone who uses your music on  
their website is required to pay royalties for the onlin euse of this  
in Germany. This is not the case in the US, where any music online is  
generally unprotected, or at least not subject to royalty payment,  
unless you are with a publishing company who watches the online usage  
independently.
I personally prefer the German way over the US way of handling  
copyright, although it seems, that generally one's pretty slow here in  
adapting legislation to the state of demand, especially when it is  
about online use of music.
Additionally it shoudl be mentioned, that you can call GEMA directly  
to obtain a form, which allows to exclude your own site from the  
collection of royalties of your music, for the obvious promotional  
reasons.
The department responsible for those things should be the Multimedia  
department, to be found here:
GEMA-Generaldirektion
Rosenheimer Str. 11
81667 München
Tel.: 089-48003-800
Fax: 089-48003-357
E-Mail: info-ind@gema.de

No, i am not working for GEMA. I am just happy about the frequent  
license payments from them. It was hard work to establish that,  
though, since with every statement every 3 months they need to be  
reminded to doublecheck what they sent. This starteg has proven to be  
working with some of my music friends as well. I can only recommend  
asking stupid questions, and writing real letters containing them.  
They are so "anal" about doing correct work, that you can easily take  
them up on this. After a while it works out fine, unless you don;t  
release anything and never play live.

Good luck.


- - -
jayrope
http://www.kliklak.net

On Jan 21, 2009, at 6:43 PM, Loopers-Delight-d-request@loopers-delight.com 
  wrote:

> ubject: OT: Pay royalties for own music on own website?
> > To: Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com
> > Date: Wednesday, January 21, 2009, 5:28 AM
> > Hi folks
> >
> > I just had a discussion with a friend of mine. He is
> > registered with the German GEMA (like ASCAP/BMI in Germany)
> > and said that he is not allowed to present his own music on
> > his own web site without paying royalties!!
> >
> > I found this idea quite bizarre and checked a few web
> > pages. Quite confusing: some say, you are allowed to stream
> > but no download - then again, this rule just goes to
> > 31.Dec07. Others suggest that in a band, one person should
> > be outside of Gema etc.
> >
> > So, I'm confused. Do you have the same regulation in
> > US? Do you really have to pay royalties for your own music
> > on your own web page (pathetic!)? In Germany/Europe? What
> > about music not registered with GEMA/ASCAP? What about
> > lyrics/song transcriptions?
> >
> > Looking forward to your hints :)
> >
> > Buzap