Receiving Credit/Royalties as Music Producer w/Stage Name

[beatmaker99]

Hello everyone. I am a music producer/songwriter. I am based in Texas however I plan to sell my instrumentals online (I'm waiting a little longer to make a profit from my songwriting). I want to go by a stage name instead of my real (gov't) name for receiving credit/royalties from my instrumentals (and in the future my song lyrics). How would I go about doing this correctly? What about when signing contracts. I read somewhere you would have to register for a trademark with your local secretary of state and when signing contracts, you need to sign your birth name AND stage name. Is this correct? Also, when signing up with one of the Performance collection agencies (BMI, etc.), do I use my stage name, gov't name......I'm very confused right now! Lol thank you all in advance...P.S. I am currently looking for a full time/part time entertainment lawyer for other things I have going on in the industry. Thank youWhat is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

 

[FlyingRon]

You need to use your real name on contracts. If you want to be clear, you can note that you are also the pseudonym involved. The copyright registration procedure allows you to use the pseudonym alone as the author or the combination of the pseudonym and your real name. However, the claimant must be a legal entity (either your real name or a corporate entity).

You'll have to talk to your PRO you signed up with as to what they want but ASCAP will allow you to register your pseudonyms under your real name to make sure you get credit.

 

[asiny]

You need to use your real name on contracts. If you want to be clear, you can note that you are also the pseudonym involved. The copyright registration procedure allows you to use the pseudonym alone as the author or the combination of the pseudonym and your real name. However, the claimant must be a legal entity (either your real name or a corporate entity).

You'll have to talk to your PRO you signed up with as to what they want but ASCAP will allow you to register your pseudonyms under your real name to make sure you get credit.

You can also setup company as John Smith dba Harry Singer. You would sign your real name, but they would be purchasing/crediting the music of Harry Singer.

 

[FlyingRon]

You can also setup company as John Smith dba Harry Singer. You would sign your real name, but they would be purchasing/crediting the music of Harry Singer.

That's not a company, but merely just a fictitious name. But you can do it.

 

[asiny]

That's not a company, but merely just a fictitious name. But you can do it.

They would be one in the same, you can register any name as a company;
Register Your Fictitious or "Doing Business As" (DBA) Name | SBA.gov

 

[FlyingRon]

They would be one in the same, you can register any name as a company;
Register Your Fictitious or "Doing Business As" (DBA) Name | SBA.gov

A DBA isn't an entity. It's just a pseudonym for another entity. There's no "company" here. Just a registered pseudonym for himself.