Take the
MUSIC BIZ QUIZ
15 Simple Questions

How much do you know about Music Business basics ?

1. When I finish writing a song, I have to send a special form to the Copyright Office in Washington D.C. to establish my rights to the song. (TRUE or FALSE )

2. I co-write song equally with a friend. A publisher is interested in the song and wants us to sign over 100% of all publishing rights. What percent of the song would I still own if we do that ? (a) 0% (b) 25% (c) 33% (d) 50%, (e) 66% (f)

3 A producer I’ve hired to arrange and produce my song adds several instrument and harmony lines which improve the song. Because of his creative input, which of the  following am I obliged to do:

(a) add his name to the copyright of the song
(b) give him a percentage of future royalties
(c) both of the above
(d) none of the above

4. I can protect my rights to a song by sending a copy to myself by certified mail
    (TRUE or FALSE)

5. Registering a song with both ASCAP and BMI will improve my chances of getting  royalties from airplay and live performance. (TRUE of FALSE)

6. A song contest specifies that it want only unpublished songs submitted. If I’ve recorded a song myself and placed it myself only in a SNOCAP store on MySpace,. I
can submit it to the song contest (TRUE of FALSE)

7. I own all the rights to a song I’ve written. I record it, release it on CD, put it on MySpace, and another artist hears it and want to record it. They can only do so if  I
give permission. (TRUE or FALSE)

8. I want to record a song originally recorded by a well known artist.
I need to get permission from:

(a) The artist
(b) The songwriter
(d) The publisher
(e) All of the above
(f) None of the above

9. You just finish writing a new song. An up-and-coming Independent artist is recording a CD, hears the song, and wants to use it on her album. In order for you to let that happen, you must first :

(a) Send the copyright form under your name to the Copyright Office
(b) Get the song under contract to a publisher
(c) Register the song with ASCAP and BMI
(d) All of the above
(e) Only two of the above
(f) None of the above

10. You place a song with a publisher under a standard SGA contract. The song gets
recorded by a band and included on their self-released CD which sells about 11,000
copies. From those specific CD sales, you should expect to receive:

(a) about $500 from the band
(b) about $500 from the publisher
(c) about $1000 from the band
(d) about $1000 from the publisher
(e) about $5,500 from the publisher and $5,500 from the band
(f) about $11,000 from the band.
(g) a bill from the publisher for your share of recording and touring expenses

11. A publisher will sign your song to an exclusive deal guaranteeing you that for a 50% interest in the song, he will have your song recorded and released on CD within 2 years or you get your rights back. The only cost to you is a $1500 fee for the professional recording. This is a generous publishing offer. (TRUE or FALSE)

12. If I place a song with a publisher, there is no way to avoid giving up some percentage of the royalties which the song may generate. (TRUE or FALSE)

13. At a critique session, with many people present, my song was highly praised for having a unique concept. I sent in the copyright form for my song and after  receiving the validated form back, I performed the song live at a showcase.  Someone then took my same chord progression, altered the melody and words, kept the same title and concept, and recorded their own song. I have clear grounds to file a claim for infringement.
(TRUE or FALSE)

14. My song, for which I own all rights, is played on a national TV broadcast in the U.S. From the list below, the agency from which I would expect to see my royalties is:

(a) AFTRA           (e) SESAC                       (i ) NSAI
(b) NARAS           (f) SGA                            (j ) Harry Fox
(c) Sound Scan    (g) Sound Exchange      (k ) None of the above
(d) AFM                (h) Wal-Mart

15. To get my Indie CD containing 20 songs into worldwide digital distribution through all major distribution channels, I should expect to pay:

(a)  Less than $50
(b) $50 - $100
(c) $500-$1000
(d) more than $1000
(e) an annual per-song licensing fee

HOW DID YOU DO ? The Answers are below. If you got
0-7 right: ---    You’re in danger of making some unfortunate decisions.
8-10 right ---   You know more than most, but have several areas of vulnerability
11-14 right --- You know a great deal – but maybe a “great deal” will get by you because
                          of the few things you didn’t know.
15 right ---        Great! – Teach others what you know.

CLICK HERE FOR THE ANSWERS

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