Releasing my music

[skills4kills]

Whats up everyone,

So my music is finally to a point where it is ready to be commercially released (after 5 years of hard work haha). I have had some contact from some local labels but I would like to get my music out there first and see what other options I might come across.

Okay lets get to the point;

I feel like this has been asked before but I couldnt find anything with the search bar, my question is how can I guarantee my music wont be stolen?

I know some people have said the old trick mail yourself a hard copy and dont open it. Does this hold up in court?

How about uploading my tracks to soundcloud, youtube, ect? Does this date prove the tracks are mine?

How about providing the DAW file with all my sounds and arrangements?

What other things can or should I do to protect my tracks?

I would simply register my songs but I read it takes two plus months to complete the process and I want to release my tracks asap. Can a fellow producer please shed some light and give me some guidance. I dont want my hard work to be stolen. Any tips, experiences, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

-Skills

[mthrfnk]

A lot of what you've said makes sense (online uploads/hard copies etc). If you're that worried about these local labels, why not talk to other artists on the labels... if there aren't any then I'd enquire further or tbh I'd stay away lol.

[FAARE FACED]

Whats up everyone,


I know some people have said the old trick mail yourself a hard copy and dont open it. Does this hold up in court?

-Skills

It totally does.
In that kind of matter, if you sue someone who is supposed to have stolen your music, the burden of proof is on you since you are the claimant. You have to make the first move.
You need proof, but the thing is you can't make a proof yourself (it would be too easy to write on a paper "this music is mine", sign, date, and bam.)

By posting yourself a hard copy of your music, you are not the one creating the proof. The postal office is, thanks to the stamp.
There you go, you have a proof to back your sayings. Now it will be on the supposed thief to do so, and it's likely he won't be able to.

If you have this, I doubt you need anything more. Maybe watermark the tracks (there a topic on it) to prevent people other than you from reuploading stuff on SoundCloud or YouTube.

[bassbum]

I would love to hear one of your tracks.

The best way to make sure that no one can download your music with out your consent is to upload them as privet tracks on sound cloud. Then only the people you send a link too can hear it.
Doing it that way means you can still send your tracks with ease. Most labels I know want demos to be sent to them by email or soundcloud anyway.

If you put anything up public anywhere, it can be downloaded. You cant stop people, if I can here it I can download it.

Also if someone is trying to take credit for your music, having the project file is all you need to prove its yours. In all my time on this forum I have never seen a post about someone taking credit for music that is not theres. I have tho seen (only twice) small labels releasing track and not paying people or telling them. Sending things by post made sence in the 80s but with todays tech there is no need.

Also some adives, any track you think is good but all the labels you sent it too didn't get back to you, give it away for free, soundcloud and youtube are the best places. That will help you build up a fan base and get your name known. I know a few people who got signed to some big dubstep labels like that. Labels will look at how meany followers and subscribes you have. After all if no one knows who you are who is going to buy your music.?

[mthrfnk]

In all my time on this forum I have never seen a post about someone taking credit for music that is not theres.

zomby x reark

[legend4ry]

Whats up everyone,


I know some people have said the old trick mail yourself a hard copy and dont open it. Does this hold up in court?

-Skills

It totally does.
In that kind of matter, if you sue someone who is supposed to have stolen your music, the burden of proof is on you since you are the claimant. You have to make the first move.
You need proof, but the thing is you can't make a proof yourself (it would be too easy to write on a paper "this music is mine", sign, date, and bam.)

By posting yourself a hard copy of your music, you are not the one creating the proof. The postal office is, thanks to the stamp.
There you go, you have a proof to back your sayings. Now it will be on the supposed thief to do so, and it's likely he won't be able to.

If you have this, I doubt you need anything more. Maybe watermark the tracks (there a topic on it) to prevent people other than you from reuploading stuff on SoundCloud or YouTube.

All that proves is that the copy was sent at that time.

Doesn't actually hold up in court, the best way to prevent your music being stolen is to do everything yourself... Invoice them mastering costs, send the masters to the distro, etc,etc... If a label can't handle these demands then it isn't right for you innit?

[skills4kills]

Thanks for the responses everyone

@mthrfnk Im not as worried about the local labels Im more worried about some guy across the country/world who hears my tracks, downloads them, starts taking credit, and then I end up in some huge expensive court case over the rights. You could say Im a bit worried but after the amount of time and sweat I have poured into this I want to take every precaution I can.

@FAARE FACED yea see I have heard that and then other people tell me it no longer works because the "postmark" can be faked idk??? But thanks for the heads up on the watermark, I would like to avoid that if possible I always think it is so annoying haha but if it comes down to it I will use that. Thanks mate

@bassbum thanks for the adive mate. when the tracks have the artwork finished and are released (planning a special event) I will definitely point all of you in the right direction. I love chatting with other producers I think in doing so we not only discover new techniques but also see a new perspective on our own style. Im definitely not worried about the tracks being downloaded illegaly, I plan to release most of my EP for free. Your advice definitely helped me.

@legend4ry yea I was definitely worried about sending my tracks to a professional master so for now I have done by own mastering. It actually sounds really good, of course I would love to have a second pair of ears make some minor adjustments but for now I think I will be fine. Yea I was worried about the postal thing as I have read from some people that this will not hold up in court, and I have read from other people that it will. I guess in the end I might do it because it cant hurt anything.

[legend4ry]

You was worried about sending your tracks to a mastering engineer whos sole job is to take other peoples music and edit them to be commercially viable?

I think someone has trust issues.

[NinjaEdit]

Whats up everyone,


I know some people have said the old trick mail yourself a hard copy and dont open it. Does this hold up in court?

-Skills

It totally does.
In that kind of matter, if you sue someone who is supposed to have stolen your music, the burden of proof is on you since you are the claimant. You have to make the first move.
You need proof, but the thing is you can't make a proof yourself (it would be too easy to write on a paper "this music is mine", sign, date, and bam.)

By posting yourself a hard copy of your music, you are not the one creating the proof. The postal office is, thanks to the stamp.
There you go, you have a proof to back your sayings. Now it will be on the supposed thief to do so, and it's likely he won't be able to.

If you have this, I doubt you need anything more. Maybe watermark the tracks (there a topic on it) to prevent people other than you from reuploading stuff on SoundCloud or YouTube.

All that proves is that the copy was sent at that time.

Doesn't actually hold up in court, the best way to prevent your music being stolen is to do everything yourself... Invoice them mastering costs, send the masters to the distro, etc,etc... If a label can't handle these demands then it isn't right for you innit?

I'd like to confirm this. I heard it may help in the UK, elsewhere it won't. Basically don't do it.

You can watermark your tunes before you send them out.

[Soulstep]

Copyright protection is automatic under international law, but in the event that your work is infringed evidence may be required to support your claim

Supporting evidence falls into two categories:

Evolution of ideas
This is evidence of the progression of the work. Early drafts, synopsis, rough recordings, sketches, etc. are all evidence that the work progressed over time, rather than being copied from elsewhere. Although it is possible to fake such evidence, it is often time consuming to do so, so it can be fairly good evidence to demonstrate that you created the work from scratch over a period of time.

Footprints or watermarking
This is normally evidence inserted into finished documents that will identify the author in some way, such as deliberate mistakes, or hidden data that can be read using special applications."

[bassbum]

But really a project file is all you need to prove its yours. I dont care who you are you can't reverce engineer a project file to the point that you could invert the audio and cancell out the original track. No one in the world can do that and no comuter program can. We have all heard how DIY acapellas sound.

[skimpi]

you are worrying too much abou this shit lol

[Eskimo]

And even IF you get a track stolen, it won't really matter after a while...

[Sharmaji]

in the states, as soon as you create something, you own the copyright for it. Whether or not you register that copyright is up to you-- but you already own it.

To register, fill out the required forms and send them back to the library of congress. Google is your friend in this.

Reigstering your works with your performing rights organization (in the states, that's ASCAP/BMI/SESAC) is never a bad thing either-- at the very least it means you'll make whatever you make if you get some radio play.

[FAARE FACED]

Whats up everyone,


I know some people have said the old trick mail yourself a hard copy and dont open it. Does this hold up in court?

-Skills

It totally does.
In that kind of matter, if you sue someone who is supposed to have stolen your music, the burden of proof is on you since you are the claimant. You have to make the first move.
You need proof, but the thing is you can't make a proof yourself (it would be too easy to write on a paper "this music is mine", sign, date, and bam.)

By posting yourself a hard copy of your music, you are not the one creating the proof. The postal office is, thanks to the stamp.
There you go, you have a proof to back your sayings. Now it will be on the supposed thief to do so, and it's likely he won't be able to.

If you have this, I doubt you need anything more. Maybe watermark the tracks (there a topic on it) to prevent people other than you from reuploading stuff on SoundCloud or YouTube.

All that proves is that the copy was sent at that time.

Doesn't actually hold up in court, the best way to prevent your music being stolen is to do everything yourself... Invoice them mastering costs, send the masters to the distro, etc,etc... If a label can't handle these demands then it isn't right for you innit?

I'd like to confirm this. I heard it may help in the UK, elsewhere it won't. Basically don't do it.

You can watermark your tunes before you send them out.

Well, it proves you had the copy at a given date. And no one can have it before you if you do this properly. Therefore since you are the first person to have the files, well, it's only a step closer to prove that you are the creator. The people you sue for copying your work won't be able to do the same thing.
About the fact a stamp can be faked, maybe but this is going too far imo. Maybe the postal office registers everything sent, to negate the faked stamp.

I'm attending some law classes, and the example of sending yourself a hard copy as a proof asap in case of a trial later on was an example my teacher mentionned. That's what I said it would stend up. He's an attorney at law so I guess he's trustable.

[antipode]

@mthrfnk Im not as worried about the local labels Im more worried about some guy across the country/world who hears my tracks, downloads them, starts taking credit, and then I end up in some huge expensive court case over the rights.

I really want to hear your tunes, they must be really good.
Promise I won't steal them and draw you into a lengthy court battle.

[Dystinkt]

@mthrfnk Im not as worried about the local labels Im more worried about some guy across the country/world who hears my tracks, downloads them, starts taking credit, and then I end up in some huge expensive court case over the rights.

I really want to hear your tunes, they must be really good.
Promise I won't steal them and draw you into a lengthy court battle.

Yeah unless your the next Zomby or something (which would be hugely ironic in this situation) ain't no motherfucker going to be stealing your tunes, not enough money involved bro

[Ficticious]

Here's what I've started doing man, Depending on what DAW you use some voice inputs allow you to type in your name into your track and you can put your own vocals of what you'd like it to say. This goes towards watermark -Name of producer- put it over the track at a lower freqency and you can blend it in. Done &done, with the newer tracks I am currently working on I simply put them in the beginning, but a few bars off so whoever would take that track (IF they did) can't just cut off the first four bars. For example, fruity loops has a program called "Speech Synthesizer"

You can simply put that in if you'd like to take that route. I wouldn't do a hard copy though the stamp would prove the date, what I'd do is privately upload your track for only yourself to soundcloud so you have the date you made it I'm sure that would probably pass as hard evidence...

I think (not sure, someone else can answer this or give a better example) Vandera does this with his mixes not sure if its his watermark trait or if it's just there to let you know it's him but pretty sure its a watermark

To give you an idea...

http://i47.tinypic.com/260qx4z.jpg

I'd really just go with the watermark idea though since you cannot recreate a sound 100% PERFECTLY unless someone shows you exactly how to make that sound or sends you that sound and even if they cut off the first 4 bars it would be completely noticeable.

You can also reform the watermark and make it sound very nice especially if you're very musically talented.

[YeahItsMe]

In the US a mailed copy to yourself or a timestamped file is not enough to hold up in court, idk about the Uk or Canada. It only costs like $30 to get it copyrighted online and you get the paperworked proof within 6 months and your music is stored in the US Library of Congress!!!! As long as it's original material.
I mean honestly, if you're proud of it and like me have spend at least a good 40 hours one 1 track then it's totally work it to protect your hard work!!!! In dubstep, your work might not be stolen and sold as is because it's more about respect than making millions, but your song can easily be broken down to melody, beat, bass, etc like any genre and reproduced unknowingly to you... But if it's copyrighted and you hear similar material to your song you can sue good for you in this case, rather than possibly not hearing back from a label!

Bottom line: You wouldn't go to war by without a gun, so protect your ass.

Ps: My Music Business Professor has been in the industry for over 20 years and I consulteted her about this "poor man's copyright" and pretty mich said what I said ^^^^^^^ don't forget, computer dates can be manipulated

[outbound]

I'd read about on this forum about any label you are thinking of signing with that you haven't worked with before.

Luckily I've worked with a lot of labels that are very professional in the way they conduct their business (and are very nice people too!) However I have had problems with certain places a long while back that always makes me think twice before working with somebody new.