Thursday 3rd December saw yet another Born to be Wide music seminar held at the Voodoo Rooms. This one was about Music Publishing, and was supported by the Music Publishers Association.  Born To Be Wide was launched five year’s ago to provide a meeting place for those involved or interested in the Scottish music scene, with a diverse range of musicians, journalists, promoters, label owners and friends of music, invited to play their all-time favourite records.  Seminars on various subjects began in 2008. 

The panel members included Paul Harris, head of A&R at independent publisher Reverb XL, lawyer Murray Buchanan and one-man publishing operation, Paul Shedden, owner of Shed Publishing, and sync specialist David McGinnis from Mute Songs.

It was a really interesting seminar with a really knowledgable and interesting panel.  To give you a run-down...  Music publishers do a few things - 1. they act as the collection agent for all your royalties (PRS, MCPS), 2. they look after your song catalogue and foster further writing (publishing advances), and 3. they pimp your songs out to advertisers, film studios, other performers etc.  Some publishers do all of the above, others do parts thereof.  Basically, for small-time singer/songwriters (my level ;-)) there is no need to have a publisher, as it is a profit-based sector, meaning that if you aren't shifting a lot of units of music, then there is nothing in it for the publisher, and no need for any admin on your part.  However, if you get to the point where you are earning more than you can keep track of, then approaching a publisher could be a good idea!  Publishers charge anywhere from 15-30% depending on the deal they are offering (single song or full catalogue), and these deals all include sunset clauses, meaning that they will retain the rights for a period after the contract ends.  If you are a musician wanting to write library music (stock music for advertising etc), then publishers are the ones who deal with this too.  Publishers also do admin-only deals sometimes, where they take a lesser percentage for simply doing royalty collection and admin.

So, moral of the story is... if you're doing well, or get offered a record contract (ensuring the publicity to start selling units), then it would be wise to get yourself a publisher.  Luckily, unlike record companies, publishers are easy to get hold of - they want to find talented (money-making) songwriters just as much as you want to reap the benefits of this skill!

To be included on the Born to be Wide seminar mailing list email Olaf Furniss on - borntobe_wide@yahoo.com

xxx
Hann

www.hannahoreilly.com
www.twitter.com/hannahoreilly
www.myspace.com/augustalia

I’ve gigged and met a lot of cool people recently, so thought it might be time to do some public ‘thank-you-ing’…  So, in reverse order…

A big thanks to Dave from Theoretical Records for putting on a lovely wee night at The Wee Red Bar.  I had a tremendous time.  To Sonya, thanks for coming to that gig and for being one of my only ‘die-hard-fans’.  To Graham & Jenn from The Dirt - thanks for your awesome set, and for being Murder Ballad fans too - I love you!

A huge big shoulder-massaging thanks must go out to Roger ‘Bluesfather’ Emmerson, for putting on Blue Wednesday @ The Forest on the 4th of Nov.  Lovin’ your work, Rog.

I must thank the Canadian lady who stalks me at The Newsroom Open Mic every other week too - you are awesome, not only for being Canadian, but for loving me!

A HUGE Augustalia-sized thank you to Fee at Cosmopol Clydebank - you rawk and we’ll be back, oh yes!

To my band, Augustalia - Steve and Adrian, you are wonderful people, bandmates, and monkeys… we sound wicked and I know that is because you guys are putting in the hours.  Love you.

To Nick Q at The Buff Club - I had a rawkin’ time on the 22/10, and am looking forward to Cafe Rio on the 2nd December.  Keep churning the music on out there, boy!

To Nicky Carder, Eddie Robinson, and Susanna Macdonald, for sticking with AMG and with me, even though I spend more time off the rails than on.  You are all beautiful people and magnificent musicians.  Dig.

To Jym Ponter, for continuing to be my muse, despite your protestations… and for never letting me away with anything.  You are the only one to manage this feat. *bite*

To Al ‘Little Pebble’ Oates - thank you for playing with us on the 27th Aug, and for being the best, grumpiest, most amusing Binkies soundman ever. x

This last thank you is a shout out across the world… all the way to my birthday twin and closest friend, Toby Mills.  Your sage advice, care-less attitude, and continued support despite our distance is a bloody god-send.

Also a general thanks to everyone who has bothered to listen to my music, come to a show, or to have shown their support in any way this year.  It means a lot to this cynical old dog.  Dig, people, dig!

Love & Laudanum,
Hann

The 50/90 challenge has begun once more!  To write 50 songs in 90 days - check it out at FAWM.ORG.  My first track has been posted to my myspace - 'Nowhere to fall' - check it out!

I am headlining Acoustic Edinburgh @ Medina on Tuesday 7th July - so come along to that - it'll be awesome!

x
Hann

p.s.  LOADS more gigs lined up, so hit one of 'em!