buymichigan
Junior Member
(Michigan)
Hello. Up until 1999 and for 13 years, I was the Bassist/Songwriter for a particular group who in my time with them recorded two albums/cd's that i am credited with writing songs for. A few of the songs on the cd's have my name soley as the writer, and others i share writers credits with the other band mates.
To make a long story short, they have been selling these albums locally, nationally, as well as internationally, via many internet sources, and live performances for the past 5 years and I have yet to recieve a dime.
I guess I Have two questions regarding this situation.
1- since we (my former mates and I) really havent been on regular speaking terms since my departure, I have rec'd no information from them on how many sales there have actually been on these two particular cd's and what my royalties are, is there any way for me to find out on my own how many sales there have been of these two particular cd's in the past 5 years and what royalties are due to me? I am a registered with BMI, but they only handle the performance royalties (radio play etc) end of it, and have advised me to contact the group personally regarding the other royalties (ie mechanical etc), but I have yet to hear back from them and I'm afraid that I wont.
And 2- How do you suggest that a "starving artist" with little money available for any type of legal representaion get what is rightfully his? As i said, I dont know how many of these 2 particular albums they have sold, but I know that after my leaving, they aquired a national distribution deal, and have had these two particular cd's as well as their new ones up for sale on over 25 different internet sources including their own site for 12 dollars each, not including the places that allow people to download single songs for a dollar, so I know they have had to sell a few at least. I dont care if its only 50 dollars that i have coming, i would Just like what is rightfully mine.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
'Not so "Royal" in Michigan!"
Hello. Up until 1999 and for 13 years, I was the Bassist/Songwriter for a particular group who in my time with them recorded two albums/cd's that i am credited with writing songs for. A few of the songs on the cd's have my name soley as the writer, and others i share writers credits with the other band mates.
To make a long story short, they have been selling these albums locally, nationally, as well as internationally, via many internet sources, and live performances for the past 5 years and I have yet to recieve a dime.
I guess I Have two questions regarding this situation.
1- since we (my former mates and I) really havent been on regular speaking terms since my departure, I have rec'd no information from them on how many sales there have actually been on these two particular cd's and what my royalties are, is there any way for me to find out on my own how many sales there have been of these two particular cd's in the past 5 years and what royalties are due to me? I am a registered with BMI, but they only handle the performance royalties (radio play etc) end of it, and have advised me to contact the group personally regarding the other royalties (ie mechanical etc), but I have yet to hear back from them and I'm afraid that I wont.
And 2- How do you suggest that a "starving artist" with little money available for any type of legal representaion get what is rightfully his? As i said, I dont know how many of these 2 particular albums they have sold, but I know that after my leaving, they aquired a national distribution deal, and have had these two particular cd's as well as their new ones up for sale on over 25 different internet sources including their own site for 12 dollars each, not including the places that allow people to download single songs for a dollar, so I know they have had to sell a few at least. I dont care if its only 50 dollars that i have coming, i would Just like what is rightfully mine.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
'Not so "Royal" in Michigan!"