THE BUSINESS SIDE OF SONGWRITING Robb Cairns - Oct 2018
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WITH YOUR MUSIC? Only play my Originals Bar Scene City Concerts Folk Festivals/House Parties Senior Care/Nursing Homes Just record and get royalties.
CONGRATULATIONS! You are a Singer/Songwriter! You are a Performing Artist! You are a Music Producer! You are a Recording Engineer! You are a Promotor! You are a Public Relations Manager!
CONGRATULATIONS! You are a Website Developer! You are a Business Card Designer! You are a Music Poster Designer! You are a Social Media Manager! You are a Roadie! You are a Tour Director!
ARTIST NOW: (POSITIVE SIDE) More outlets today for posting original music: Apple itunes, CD Baby, ReverbNation, Sound Cloud, You Tube, Spotify, iheart Radio, Rhapsody, Ringtones, etc. More outlets today for licensing original music: Netflicks, Amazon, Cable TV, Shazam, Songtradr etc. DON T NEED A RECORD CONTRACT FOR THE PUBLIC TO HEAR YOUR MUSIC! Never before in history has it been so easy to generate a decent recording without having to spend a boatload of $$$ to buy studio time/ studio musicians/ engineer etc.
ARTIST NOW: (POSITIVE SIDE) Many outlets today for performing Open Mics Folk Festivals: Thumbfest, BlissFest, Outdoor City / Suburb in the park series Downtown Detroit Summer Concert Series Campus Martius Cadillac Square Grand Circus Park Capitol Park Beacon Park Other venues: The Ark - Ann Arbor Trinity House - Livonia Unitarian Church - B ham Bars/ Restaurants Senior Care/ Nursing Homes
ARTIST NOW (NEGATIVE SIDE) Too much music available - get lost in the crowd We lost smaller record companies that could promote an artist. Even the Big 5 Record Co s will only finance your first album Boom or Bust. no more Bruce Springsteens (example) Don t make money on record sales Music is Free now Must make money touring and merchandise.
ARTIST PAST Bar bands could command $1,500 per night A Union musician could make a living wage ($35K- $50K) Studio session work: $1,500- $2,000 for 30 second spot Commercial Jingles (Car companies) paid well (even without residuals)
NOW Due to more stringent drinking/driving laws and smoking bans, Bar owners cannot afford to pay solos and bands at the old rates. Was 2AM closing time; now most bars are empty at midnight. Today, if a band is getting $300 or $500 per night, they are doing well. Solo artists can command -$200- $300 per night (3 sets) Unfortunately, many bands and solos will play for much less nowadays, just to get a gig Open Mics have hurt the working musician.
DON T SELL YOURSELF CHEAP Years of learning your instrument Years of learning songs (original & cover) Practice sets / Rehearsals Purchased gear and equipment Set up and tear down for gigs- including hauling gear from your house to your car to the stage, back to your car and then back to your house= 4X!
HOW TO GET A BAR GIG: Look up bars on web near where you live Phone each one and ask Do you have entertainment? (can sometimes see on website) Ask Who does your entertainment bookings?" Usually, it s Charlie and he is not there at the moment. Sometimes they will have you send an EPK ( electronic promotion kit) to an email.
HOW TO GET A BAR GIG: (CONTINUED) Ask when the best time to reach Charlie They will tell you morning or afternoon Then, call back at least 9 more times to try and speak to Charlie. On the 10th call, you will find Charlie no longer works here the new guy is Dave And Dave is not here at the moment. And you go thru the whole process AGAIN! (You can also show up in person with the same results!) Life of a Musician
HOW TO GET A BAR GIG: (CONTINUED) When you finally get hold of Dave, he will ask you what kind of music you play. (here you should have a brief description of the kinds of covers you play - don t even mention originals. Oftentimes, they will then ask you to send an email or a link to your website. (this gets you nowhere because when you call for follow up, they haven t even read your email or gone to your website! Then, Dave will ask you what you charge to play. Give him your fee and don t sell yourself short. Many times, they will say they can t pay that amount and will try and get you cheap. Sometimes, they will ask you to play for free and see what kind of audience you bring in - Don t fall for that EVER! Dave will then ask you how many people you can GUARANTEE to show up for your gig. If you promise ANY number except your girlfriend and your dog, you are setting yourself up. Tell him NO ONE can GUARANTEE attendance. Ask him how many people HE can guarantee are coming to his bar tonight! If it rains, there may be 50% less.
28 DAY TOUR - POMPLAMOOSE BAND
SHOW ME THE MONEY? Income: $135,893 Expenses: 147,807* Net Loss: - $11,819 * Equipment Rental, Lights, Lighting Board, Van Rental, Road Cases etc.
ARTIST- SOURCES OF INCOME Live Performance Fees Record Label Royalties Music Publishing Income Mechanical Royalties (CD/DVD) Performance Royalties (Radio, TV, Satellite Radio) Synchronization Fees (TV, Film) Sheet Music Sales Commercials, Jingles Income Merchandise Royalties (T-Shirts etc.) Internet Streaming/ Downloads Gear Endorsements Book/Video Sales Teach Music Lessons
SHOW ME THE MONEY- ROYALTIES This is really the BEST way to make money in the music biz. It takes a lot of work and a lot of LUCK! But, for the first time, the big commercial studios don t have an advantage over the independent songwriter. There are numerous newly produced shows on Netflix, Amazon, Cable that all need MUSIC! You can provide that music and by having a music publishing company, licensing rights will be paid to you fairly and consistently.
SHOW ME THE MONEY- ROYALTIES
ROYALTIES BMI New York Writer/Publisher Relations Office 7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10007-0030 Nashville Writer/Publisher Relations Office 10 Music Square East Nashville, TN 37203 Los Angeles Writer/Publisher Relations Office 8730 Sunset Blvd, Third Floor West Los Angeles, CA 90069 London Writer/Publisher Relations Office 84 Harley House, Marylebone Road London NWI 5HN, England Royalty Statement Atlanta Writer/Publisher Relations Office 3340 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 570 Atlanta, GA 30326 Miami Writer/Publisher Relations (305) 673-5148 Page 1 of 6 Affiliate: CAIRNS ROBERT FRANCIS Account No: 000893477 IP No: 00441.02.56.00 Distribution Date: January 13, 2017 U.S. Performance Period: International: 2ND QUARTER 2016 154TH ACCOUNTING Summary of Current Royalty Earnings Description U.S. Admin Services International Total Current Earnings $0.00 $0.00 $23,601.76 $23,601.76 Amount Paid $0.00 $0.00 $23,601.76 $23,601.76 Summary of Year to Date Royalties as of January 13, 2017 Description Payments Adjustments Applied to Balance Due Withheld International $23,601.76 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 Totals: $23,601.76 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 Questions About Your Statement? Call: (212) 220-3000 or visit bmi.com BMI's Next Distribution Will Occur During: March 2017 Moving? Visit bmi.com to change your address YOUR ENTIRE ROYALTY PAYMENT HAS BEEN DEPOSITED TO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT ENDING IN 2172. Account Deposit Deposit Number Number Date 000893477 11778296 2017-01-13 Period Deposit Amount 20162-154TH *******$23,601.76 ROBERT FRANCIS CAIRNS 31270 PORTSIDE DR APT 1304 NOVI MI 48377-4324
SYNC RIGHTS
WHERE IS THE MONEY?
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE ANY $$$ IN THIS BIZ? 1. LEARN YOUR CRAFT 2. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE 3. PROPER EQUIPMENT- RECORD/PERFORM 4. DEVELOP YOUR PERFORMANCE 5. PROMOTE YOURSELF 6. PERSISTANCE PAYS 7. JOIN A P.R.O. 8. MAXIMIZE OUTLETS FOR YOUR MUSIC 9. NETWORK IN MUSIC WORLD 10. EXPLORE EVERY OPPORTUNITY 11. BE PROFESSIONAL & POLITE 12. GOOD LUCK!