Collecting Royalties For Lyrics

Posted by Matt Hartley on May 10, 2010 | 4 Comments

Should the music industry really be that concerned about various lyric websites? I think the idea is just stupid, as offering up lyrics on a website likely will translate into a music sale.

The sale of music, is good for everyone. But because of the desire to seek licensing of lyrics, not just the actual audio music itself, an otherwise great opportunity for webmasters and music creators, is tossed into a lot of complication.

The worst part is companies trying to simply re-up their licensing just to offer up the lyrics to the music. Yes, there are IP rights at stake here. And that is understandable. But the current system of lyric licensing, makes hosting a website for lyrics an awful experience for webmasters.

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http://www.hillassetmanagement.com Spencer Hill

There should be a licensing fee. The lyrics are someone’s work and the should be compensated just like a radio station pays a fee to the writer of the music, not to the musician.

The licensing fee should be simple a flat $500 or $1000 annually to the licensing agency for their entire catalog of works.

No one works for free, neither should lyricists.
John Kotson

Hmph! Kinda reminds me of when I managed a trailer park and ASCAP wanted to sue me for royalties because one of the guests left a radio playing in the mens bathroom… or when they sued a church I was in because we sang a song that wasn’t in our hymnal but they just happened to have a version of a similar song in their hymnal(which we were required to purchase for each member of the congregatio and for all FUTURE visitors who might possibly stop by and hear it). Next thing you know they’ll be monitoring your bathroom because the grunts you make on the throne just happen to sound vaguely like one of the cRAP hits floating around out there! When will no-talent buttheads quit trying to get rich on the work and achievements of others. I’ve been a professional musician almost all of my life and I lnow for a fact that the players and artists never see a penny of those proceeds.
Bob

Any patient person can easily sit down with their fav tunes and write down the lyrics to it. Many of the lyrics sites are just that. No way they should have to pay royalties for it.