Music Placements: How to Get Your Music in Film & TV
I’ve negotiated a few significant film and television placements for clients in the last two months, so I decided to write an article on the topic. Getting your music placed in film and TV can be a game-changer in your career. Music placements are one of the best ways to gain serious exposure for […]
What Constitutes Music Plagiarism? The Sam Smith and Robin Thicke Trials
Music plagiarism is a hot topic in the music industry these days. From Sam Smith to Bruno Mars to Beyonce, artists seem to be being accused of music plagiarism more than ever. As the old saying goes: there is no such thing as an original thought. Everyone from Shakespeare to the Beatles to Zeppelin has […]
Music Industry Collectives – Why Are They So Important?
Most musicians I talk to are slightly confused by all the music industry collectives out there and how they can collect money from them. This is understandable: there is a lot to digest. Let’s look at the main music industry collectives and how you can get paid from them. 1) Performing Rights Collectives (PROs) Every time […]
Touring the USA: What Canadian Musicians Need to Know
Since 9/11, touring the USA as a Canadian musician has never been more difficult. Things have gotten worse since Trump took office. Horror stories abound of bands being held at the border in interrogation rooms for hours/days on end, all because they lacked proper documentation. What Constitutes Touring the USA? Whether you are showcasing for free, […]
When Should Musicians Incorporate? The Benefits of Incorporation for Musicians
All successful musicians incorporate. It is really a question of “when” rather than “if”. The benefits of incorporation are huge, and the risks of not incorporating are bigger. Let’s examine why. Why Should Musicians Incorporate? The Benefits i) Tax Benefits If you have not incorporated and are playing music as an individual or group, you are […]
What Rights Do You Have in a Sound Recording You Play On?
I get many emails every week from musicians around the world asking me questions about the music business. One of the most common questions is: what rights do I have in a recording that I performed on? Whether it’s a song you played on decades ago that was just re-released by your former bandmates, […]
How to Legally Post Cover Songs to YouTube
YouTube is full of cover songs. From indie artists to toddlers to superstars, some of the most viewed videos on the Internet happen to be of cover songs. In the past week, I’ve been listening to and watching a ton of cover songs of the man himself, Leonard Cohen. [Fun fact: both Cohen’s and Jeff Buckley’s […]
Why the Led Zeppelin Plagiarism Verdict Was Right, and What it Means to You
The Led Zeppelin plagiarism verdict is in. I’ve been watching with baited breath. Not because the Zeppelin tattoos on my arm might have to be covered with long sleeves the rest of my life if they had lost, but because of the deeper impact the decision would have on the music industry and creativity as […]
The Song Remains Similar – Led Zeppelin and the Stairway to Heaven Plagiarism Trial
What constitutes music plagiarism? The line between inspiration and plagiarism is a fine one, and is the crucial distinction when it comes to music plagiarism. As I examined in my article here on the Robin Thicke vs. Marvin Gaye trial, everyone from Shakespeare to the Beatles to Sam Smith has been accused of stealing […]