Music Copyright/ Royalties

[2445]

What is the name of your state? CALIFORNIA

Approx. a year ago I joined a band with folks I up until now, believed were my close friends. I have written the lyrics for every song and the actual music for one song. A couple weeks ago, a label gave the band, minus myself, an offer to sign with there label and record with them in a month. I have been dropped from the band. I have presently written the lyrics (I was the singer) to each song we have created. There is about 9 songs or so. I also wrote the music on 1 of the songs. I need to find out how to go about copyrighting my lyrics and the music of the 1 song. Any advice you can offer is great. I do plan on sending in a copy of our 3 song demo, (which includes 3 songs of lyrics i wrote, and i did not write any of the music, and do not wish for any rights to the musical parts)to register with like bmi or ascap or something that i noticed an attorney recommended to a previous somewhat similar case a few months ago on these forums. But how do I go about just registering the lyrics, and what about the lyrics that we never recorded yet?

My other concern is that, the rest of the band now has legal advice from this label company who deals with this stuff daily and prob. knows how to go about it all much quicker than myself. They also know that I have no money whatso ever to use if they decided to just use our music, knowing I couldn't afford to take them to court. If they mailed in a copy already of our demo to copyright it with all there names and not mine, what do I do now?


Thank you so much for your time and for any helpful, and hopefully prompt responses I could receive!

 

[seniorjudge]

http://www.copyright.gov/


I am NOT a copyright lawyer....

 

[divgradcurl]

If you want to register the copyrights, go to the website seniorjudge pointed you to, download the appropriate forms, fill them out, and send them in along with copies of your lyrics. It will cost $30 or $35 per song, I can't remember which right offhand.

My other concern is that, the rest of the band now has legal advice from this label company who deals with this stuff daily and prob. knows how to go about it all much quicker than myself. They also know that I have no money whatso ever to use if they decided to just use our music, knowing I couldn't afford to take them to court. If they mailed in a copy already of our demo to copyright it with all there names and not mine, what do I do now?

Have you talked to anyone, your former bandmates, the label, etc., about your ownership of some of the copyrights?

The fact is, a song consists of lyrics + music -- even if you wrote the lyrics, if the band wrote the music, you are co-owners of a copyright in the song itself -- and they don't need your permission to go and record a song that they are co-owners of. However, if they ever profit from the songs, then you are entitled to a piece of the profits (and that's profits, not advances or anything) -- but, if you won't, or can't, get a lawyer to help you, even if they do start profiting, it may be tough to get them to cough up any money.