Do artists actually listen and really give a chance to unknown writers?  Or are they so bombarded with one-note elementary lyrics that they don’t listen unless they recognize the writer’s name(s).  It seems artists use the same writers for project after project and many times I feel like they get in a “rut” musically by doing so.

All thoughts/comments/suggestions are welcome!

Levisamjuno
When recording a project, how do you go about making sure you record songs legally? That is, I’m an avid CD album reader, and I take very careful note of all the information listed for each song (author, copyright date, publisher, etc.) I even put that info in the information for each song when I record it to my iTunes player. I always want to make sure I know where the song came from in case I ever want to do it or find more songs from that individual.
I know I’ve seen information on here in articles and such, but I would like to know how to make sure the songwriters get their due payment/recognition. I have read recording contracts that say they will not be responsible for this part of the music--the artist will be responsible for the royalties, etc.
Any help would be most gratefully appreciated.
Levi

There are 3 pages of discussion on the old board.  I have included the last page here:

Parttimer
At $.091 per unit SOLD, what publisher can afford to come after a southern gospel group who has neglected to pay. Most regional groups order 1000 units or less. Local units often have trouble moving a few hundered units. Will a publisher go to court over $91 for 1000 units? Actually the publisher part would be a little less than $45.

Even pro groups who don’t pay mechanicals usually cant be challenged because it is just not financially profitable. At 10,000 units, a publisher probably won’t be going to court for half of $910.

Swampmouse
Why don’t gospel writers take advantage of PRO’s more often? Ascaap has a reputation of looking out for the little guy. I guess no one wants to pay the fees and go in the hole...still seems like a good way to protect your interest.

Bass-ically Yours
The fee is now… $ .09.1 cents per CD. So for the math challenged among us. If you are ordering 1,000 CD then for each song not in public domain you own the publisher $91.00 per song, on an 10 song CD it could cost you $910.00 total for the mechanical rights.

We made the decision going into a music ministry that we would do what is right and proper regardless, so we obtain mechanical rights for each song we record. It’s not cheap, but it’s right. Basically after production costs, the MR’s take the sales of 10 CD to cover the net mechanical rights for each song.

SRWJones
As best I know, most gospel songwriters do belong to one of the PROs. There are no fees to the writer in order to belong. They only pay if a song makes it to radio, and usually only if it is played by several stations over a period of time. (I don’t know of any that truly pay out per “spin.") The royalties generally discussed in this thread are mechanical royalties, which BMI, ASCAP, and SESAC have nothing to do with.

JUST WONDERING ABOUT CO-WRITING WITH SOMEONE. IS THAT A GOOD IDEA?. I HAVEN’T WROTE WITH NO ONE ELSE SO FAR. I’VE HAD SEVERAL CUTS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. ONE SONG ON THE SINGING NEWS CHART NOW. I LIVE IN BETWEEN MONTGOMERY & BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA.  WHAT’S YOUR EXPERENCE? IS ANYONE ELSE INERESTED CO-WRITING?
JUST WONDERING

Thanks in advance!

I am looking for the lyrics to these songs, they are all Kingdom Heirs songs:
1) Sing, Shout, Dance
2) I don’t wanna go back
3) God’s Word
4) Poorest man in heaven

If you could send them to me at my personnel email: mdren760 at yahoo dot com
Thanks for the last lyrics I asked for, I am putting together a demo tape to send off for an open baritone spot..Thanks in advance for anyones help