RECORDINGS
If you're planning to produce and distribute recordings featuring selections from the Kendor catalog, you must obtain a mechanical (recording) license, which among other things confirms the copyright owner's consent and royalty terms. This is necessary even if you're giving your recordings away or making just 20 cassettes as a momento for graduating seniors. While securing mechanical licenses is best done before a project is officially underway (before performances are recorded), they are often issued just before or immediately after record release dates.
Preparing and Sending Requests
Requests for mechanical licenses should always include:
· record company name, address, and phone/fax numbers
· title, writer, copyright owner and duration for each selection
· performing artist or organization
· recording quantity and type (compact disc, cassette)
· proposed release date
To determine where to send your Kendor licensing requests, first find the owner's name in the top line of the copyright notice on the printed music. If the owner is Kendor, Almitra, Cojarco or Doug Beach Music, send your request to:
|
The Harry Fox Agency, Inc. 212-370-5330 phone |
All other requests should be sent to the attention of the copyright owner in care of Mendy Varga, Kendor's copyright administrator, by fax (716-492-5124) or standard mail (Box 278, Delevan NY 14042-0278). She will then forward your request to the owners so they can contact you directly.
NOTE: Since HFA requires a minimum royalty payment of $22.75 (the royalty for 250 copies) per tune, anyone wishing to license a Kendor, Almitra or Cojarco copyright for small-quantity recording projects may request a license directly from Mendy Varga. For such projects involving Doug Beach copyrights, request a mechanical license from him via fax (630-617-3738) or mail (105 E. Vallette, Elmhurst IL 60126).
Royalty Rates
The royalty rates established by the federal government for each recorded tune are currently 9.1¢ or 1.75¢ per minute, whichever is greater. With this information, you can calculate in advance the royalty costs of your recording project, assuming you know the quantity of recordings you intend to make and the duration of each tune. The first rate of 9.1¢ applies to selections with durations up to 5 minutes. The second rate of 1.75¢ per minute applies to selections with durations over 5 minutes.
To illustrate, the royalty cost for a program containing six short and four extended selections might be:
|
|
DURATION |
RATE |
|
UNIT |
|
TOTAL |
|
#1 |
3:25 |
$.091 |
x |
1 tune |
= |
$ .091 |
|
#2 |
4:10 |
$.091 |
x |
1 tune |
= |
$ .091 |
|
#3 |
6:30 |
$.0175 |
x |
7 min. |
= |
$ .122 |
|
#4 |
2:15 |
$.091 |
x |
1 tune |
= |
$ .091 |
|
#5 |
8:25 |
$.0175 |
x |
9 min |
= |
$ .158 |
|
#6 |
3:25 |
$.091 |
x |
1 tune |
= |
$ .091 |
|
#7 |
4:40 |
$.091 |
x |
1 tune |
= |
$ .091 |
|
#8 |
7:00 |
$.0175 |
x |
7 min. |
= |
$ .122 |
|
#9 |
1:50 |
$.091 |
x |
1 tune |
= |
$ .091 |
|
#10 |
6:15 |
$.0175 |
x |
6 min. |
= |
$ .105 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------ |
|
total royalty cost per recording |
|
$1.05 |
||||
If 650 recordings are being produced, the total royalties due would be $682.50. Obviously, preliminary recording budgets must include royalty expenses.