[DMBandit]

Hello,

I have recently had an instrumental piece selected for use in a documentary through the MusicGorilla site.
I received an email this morning from MusicGorilla asking me to get in contact with the director and while this is all very exciting I am also panicking a little as I have no idea what to do here! This is the first time this has really happened and as of yet I am still a hobbyist songwriter.

I am not a member of any music rights organisation. I have just contacted my local organisation for advice (IMRO) but I know that I don't meet the criteria to join (songs recorded commercially/performed live).

Could anyone with a similar experience give me some advice on what to do here? Any advice at all would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Mal

[DevyE]

Hi DMBandit

Firstly congratulations on getting your work selected, I'm not sure being part of an organisation is necessary until you know what the offer is.  All I can suggest is that you or someone you trust speaks to the director to confirm that it is a genuine offer and what it contains. Then take advice from those closest to you or possibly seek further advice on this forum.

You could join an organisation like the Guild of international Songwriters and seek their advice but that may be jumping the gun until you have more information.

[S.T.C]

You can still join a PRO without having anything used ,i joined PRS and felt stuck on the same point.Plus PRO's collect royalties and they take a while to come through , so once you know the deal and agree to it ,then you can make a decision.

[seriousfun]

The advice the others have given is spot on. Just wait and see what the offer is. It may be a buy out in which a pro would be irrelevant, then again it might be royalty orientated in which case a pro becomes imperative.

Grats on the offer. They are hard to get.

Allan.

[DMBandit]

Hi all,

Firstly, thanks a lot for the replies, it's greatly appreciated.

I've been put in contact with the director and am currently waiting for him to contact me to discuss the usage rights. I think what I am most worried about is him expecting me to have some sort of idea of what I would be looking for in terms of fees to allow him to use the piece. And I really haven't any clue about this.

I gather from your reply Allan that there are two types of deals, where one would be a one-figure buyout to use the song in the film, and one which is based on royalties? Could you expand on that?

Are you all saying that really it's up to them to come to me with some sort of offer and would never be the case where I am asked what I would be looking for?

Thanks a lot,
Mal

[S.T.C]

I guess this is the benefit of getting published ,they take care of all this stuff.