selling my completed songs

moggio wrote on 9/22/2009, 2:25 AM
I have made several songs from arrangements and soundpools built into Magix Music Maker 15 - I know this may have been answered before but I want to be sure !  I have used a great deal of artistic input into the arrangements and also added my own samples etc..and therefore they could be considered my own compositions in my opinion  - am I ok to sell these songs as a digital download on such sites as CDbaby etc.. ? or do i need publishing rights etc..  thank you for such a great product  

Comments

Lazerboy wrote on 9/22/2009, 3:46 AM
If you used samples to create your own individual songs, you can sell it as your creation.
Of course you are not allowed to re-sell samples as they are, but if you have created something new out of it, you are free to sell it.

Cheers

Lazer
Clevo wrote on 9/22/2009, 2:04 PM
If you are planning doing this on a regular basis I would even suggest you register with your local musician union or publishing office. You are rightly concerned about copyright infringment and that can go both ways.

By registering your songs officially you can prove you are the composer should someone else steal your songs
Lazerboy wrote on 9/23/2009, 7:33 AM
I have to add something to Clevos comment.

If you are going to a local musician union, from my point of view this courses only problems. I am a member of Gema (Germany). But I do not see any positive aspects anymore - I pay for my membership, but I would only get something out, if I would be played in the radio or sell via the big content aggregators (iTunes). On the other hand if you would only use samples, it really can happen that somebody creates the same samples based track.....what brings back the question of ownership.

Anyway, if you sell your tracks royalty free (means one time fee- no musician union), it is very attractive for small companies that look for such tracks as they have to pay royalties based on plays/web visits for all the big hits....
Clevo wrote on 9/23/2009, 3:24 PM
Adding to Lazerboy... I tend to agree. Each country will be different as will the pro's & cons of membership to unions or publishing houses etc.

It's wise to investigate