Song downloads

[Christopher Duncan]

Hey, guys.

I'm still woefully behind on the project to put together compilation CDs from the Composer Channel to try & make you a couple of bucks on your music, and issues are keeping that on the back burner for the moment.

However, I had someone contact me this weekend asking how they could order one of the songs from the station (not the first time, either). So I thought, why not sell the songs for you individually ala Apple's 99 cents per downloaded song formula?

Our online store is already set up to sell file downloads, so mp3s are easy. The downside is that files can be shared on the Internet for free. The upside is that it's drop dead easy to make your songs available for sale, and people seem to like being able to buy individual songs instead of entire albums. I don't know how many sales I'd be able to make for you, but I figure whatever we can bring in for you is bonus.

So, what do you think? Is it worth pursuing?

[Jerry W.]

I think that the very fact we submit demos to this forum endangers us to stealing anyway. As composers who publish in an electronic medium this way, we ALL run the risk of someone doing something with our music we don't intend.
I say, if someone is willing to pay for something we have pretty much put out there for free, all the better!! imo.

I understasnd the Composer Channel is different in that regard. it STREAMS music, whereas we have submitted demos here already in mp3 format. But people can still STEAL streams too. (by capturing them)

Might as well sell what we already have given away for free! (if someone wants our music)

Or we can have Christopher just refer the interestred parties to the creators of the music and let them haggle it out. but I like Christopher's idea.

:) Jerry

[SeanHannifin]

I have all my music downloadable for free on my website, so I don't think it would work out for me . . . unless it was somehow considered donation money :D However, I'm sure it's not my music that anyone is requesting anyway :D

Still I like the idea. As Jerry said, someone could already steal them now if they really wanted to. I don't think the risk is very high though.

Thanks for your continued support! :)

[etLux]

Christopher, I think this is a great idea, overall.

My primary concern, though, would be financial: Would enough sales volume be there to make it worthwhile for you?

Just keeping the books on something like this can potetentially chew up quite a lot of time and effort.

I'm sure every single person in this forum would be 110% behind you on this; but I don't think any of us would ever want you to take it on were it to be more of a burden for you than a benefit!

David
www.DavidSosnowski.com
.

[Godfrey]

Christopher, I think this is a great idea, overall.
Just keeping the books on something like this can potetentially chew up quite a lot of time and effort.

If the front end is written properly, an online store does its own recordkeeping.

[Christopher Duncan]

Christopher, I think this is a great idea, overall.

My primary concern, though, would be financial: Would enough sales volume be there to make it worthwhile for you?

Just keeping the books on something like this can potetentially chew up quite a lot of time and effort..
Well, if it reaches the point where I'm chewing up a lot of time because we're selling tons of songs, those are nice problems to have. As Jeff pointed out, the store system does a lot of the record keeping, so all that's left is putting stamps on envelopes.

Having done my time sleeping on floors and eating macaroni and cheese, I think sitting down once a month to write out a bunch of checks to musicians would be a rather gratifying experience. http://www.northernsounds.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Christopher Duncan]

As composers who publish in an electronic medium this way, we ALL run the risk of someone doing something with our music we don't intend.

I say, if someone is willing to pay for something we have pretty much put out there for free, all the better!!
Yeah, you can get obsessive and go crazy trying to protect yourself to extremes (hey Sony, how's that working out so far?), or you can just figure in a certain percentage of such things as "acceptable losses" and go on about your business. I've always been of the mind that honest people are going to be honest regardless of what new opportunities for misbehaving appear, and these are the folks who have always supported the artistic community.

[rwayland]

Hey, guys.


So, what do you think? Is it worth pursuing?


In general, it sounds like a great idea. In the specifics? I haven't thought much about it, but I don't see any serious problems.

Richard

[Nickie Fønshauge]

I'm not a legal expert, and I may be wrong, but I could think of a legal problem.

Suppose, hypothetically, that some composer out there one day hears a work, sold through this service, and thinks: Hey, I wrote that theme. I'm suing!
I'm afraid you run the risk of getting legally spanked, Christopher.

Apart from that, I think it sounds like a good idea, and it's very generous of you, Christopher, to offer your time this way.

[Jerry W.]

I'm not a legal expert, and I may be wrong, but I could think of a legal problem.

Suppose, hypothetically, that some composer out there one day hears a work, sold through this service, and thinks: Hey, I wrote that theme. I'm suing!
I'm afraid you run the risk of getting legally spanked, Christopher.

Apart from that, I think it sounds like a good idea, and it's very generous of you, Christopher, to offer your time this way.


I think that the key with that one is to have each composer "sign" a release form freeing Christopher to sell the music (naming SPECIFIC titles) and free him from all legal liability from such actions as you described, as his role in hosting the site that sells the music. They should also "sign" a statement that they are the sole authors of the the titles they are releasing (or if there are more than one composer, siging a statement they have the permission of the other party. Look on your standard copyright form for that template. That would release Christopher of any liability.

Jerry

[tcohen]

I'm all for it - like others have said - we're almost giving it away for free any way - why not try it. I think Christopher is doing an excellent job and providing a wonderful outlet for many of us who would never get airplay otherwise. Thanks for the questions, the site, and all you do Chris! :)

Regards,

Tim

[Styxx]

I'm not a legal expert, and I may be wrong, but I could think of a legal problem.

Suppose, hypothetically, that some composer out there one day hears a work, sold through this service, and thinks: Hey, I wrote that theme. I'm suing!
I'm afraid you run the risk of getting legally spanked, Christopher.
I suppose it could happen however, a person would have to have preponderance of evidence that it is in fact his or her theme and also be in a good financial position to hire excellent lawyers to help prove in a court of law. In addition, realistically, how much would the person gain in the long run as apposed to loose in the immediate?
If your music is copy written with the Library of Congress in the USA, the person wouldn't stand a chance unless the so called theme was published before. That of which would highly be unlikely to happen. Plenty of legal formalities to wallow through. Don't think it be worth the money.
Just my two and a half billion dollars worth. :D

[Fabio]

Hey, guys.

I'm still woefully behind on the project to put together compilation CDs from the Composer Channel to try & make you a couple of bucks on your music, and issues are keeping that on the back burner for the moment.

However, I had someone contact me this weekend asking how they could order one of the songs from the station (not the first time, either). So I thought, why not sell the songs for you individually ala Apple's 99 cents per downloaded song formula?

Our online store is already set up to sell file downloads, so mp3s are easy. The downside is that files can be shared on the Internet for free. The upside is that it's drop dead easy to make your songs available for sale, and people seem to like being able to buy individual songs instead of entire albums. I don't know how many sales I'd be able to make for you, but I figure whatever we can bring in for you is bonus.

So, what do you think? Is it worth pursuing?

I'm starting seriously to think about that, and your business model is absolutely the right one. Low cost for provider, only risk-free and low cost shopping experiences for the consumers = customer satisfaction. For musicians and composers the possible fees are only a bonus, you are right again.

I've not experiences of the e-commerce money management costs, because of the % and starting cost of credit card or e-money companies, but if it works for majors, why it can't work for us? It's a matter of business case...

Keep in touch, I'm interested.

[Christopher Duncan]

It sounds like it might be a workable concept. I don't think it's going to buy any of us a shiny new Corvette, but it might at least buy you a beer or two.

I'll have to do some tweaking to the web site and add an opt-in option for your Composer profiles, as I wouldn't consider putting anyone's music up without their express desire to do so. When I get that done, I'll send an email to all the Composers letting them know they can log in and participate.

Oh, thank heavens. And here I thought I wouldn't have anything to do over the holidays. :)