Copyrights and issues...

[The Radman]

Greetings.
Perhaps a little light on the subject would help?
Forgive the previous lack of introduction, I dont usually need one.
I am wondering if you hold in high regard and esteem the organisation known as Click&Copyright.com. First, could you tell me if they supply an acceptable proof of copyright registration that allows for the artist/user to have copyright protection of uploaded material to the TuneCore site?
Second, The TuneCore site allows the artist to charge whatever fee they require for any of their material? Artist sets Cost per song or Cost per album correct?
Third, I was wondering if you could go into some detail as to how monies generated from downloads from customers are delivered to the control of the artist?
Lastly, is their any fee or cost associated with registering or uploading musical material to your site?. I understand these may appear as juvenile questions, I admit I am just beginning my research into this and have not had time to investigate your TuneCore site thoroughly. Thanks for your insight.
Peace Love Electric RAD :cool:
The Radman.

[PeterTuneCore]

I'll do my best to answer!

Greetings.
Perhaps a little light on the subject would help?
Forgive the previous lack of introduction, I dont usually need one.
I am wondering if you hold in high regard and esteem the organisation known as Click&Copyright.com.

I'm not familiar with them, Radman, so I can't comment. I asked the rest of the executive team here at TuneCore, and no one recognized the name. My concern is, at first glance (and I haven't had time to look them over, so please consider this a mere first impression) they look like an organization that takes money as a fee and promises you "copyright protection." I'm not a lawyer, but I know this is not necessary: the law protects anyone who has created something, such as a song, and you don't need to pay money for that protection. From my understanding, even "registering" your creations with the U.S. government is simply an act of caution, designed to establish proof you are the proper copyright holder in case of future legal action by someone claiming otherwise. That's very handy in some situations, but not for everyone, certainly not when there's a considerable fee involved.

First, could you tell me if they supply an acceptable proof of copyright registration that allows for the artist/user to have copyright protection of uploaded material to the TuneCore site?

There is no need to supply proof of any kind. TuneCore does not ask for proof. Our Terms and Conditions state that anyone using TuneCore warrants and affirms they have the right to sell the music they're placing in our system and through it into the stores and territories they chose. This covers copyright, "sampling" right, master-use exploitation and any other rights. It is the responsibility of the party to have their "ducks in a row," to have secured mechanical licenses (or have followed the law regarding compulsory licenses, if they so choose) if they are "covering" someone else's creation; it is the responsibility of the part to have master-use licenses if they sample or otherwise use someone else's performance.

Second, The TuneCore site allows the artist to charge whatever fee they require for any of their material? Artist sets Cost per song or Cost per album correct?

TuneCore has no say in charging, because we are not a store. We're a distributor, and we pass the material to the stores, who sell at whatever price they want. No one can dictate to a store how much they sell their wares for, of course. We do have contractual "pay rates" or formulae that yeild a rate of return pay rates for each store, and it's the store's responsibility to pay those every time they sell/rent a song. They could sell the music for a penny, they'd still have to pay the pay rate.

However, some stores are starting, of their own volition, to let customers choose the price level: AmazonMP3 is one such store. When you choose to have your music delivered to AmazonMP3 through TuneCore, we pass the choice of level to you, exactly as Amazon offers it. As more stores adopt this, we'll be happy to pass it along.

Third, I was wondering if you could go into some detail as to how monies generated from downloads from customers are delivered to the control of the artist?

This is all in our FAQ, but the short answer is: every month (or quarter, for some stores), the stores send us a big spreadsheet with all the sales data and a fat check with all the money. We put it right into our computer and it processes the data, putting the proper information and money into your personal account. It's automated, fast, and always waiting for you. We never take a percentage--whatever the store pays, it goes to you.

Lastly, is their any fee or cost associated with registering or uploading musical material to your site?. I understand these may appear as juvenile questions, I admit I am just beginning my research into this and have not had time to investigate your TuneCore site thoroughly. Thanks for your insight.
Peace Love Electric RAD :cool:
The Radman.

You can check out all our rates right here: http://www.tunecore.com/example.html

Thanks!

--Peter
peter@tunecore.com

[The Radman]

Brilliant. Just the sorta ideas I was looking for.
Amazing what a little good direction can do.
Thanks Very much, you are quite helpful.
Peace Love Electric RAD:cool:
The Radman.