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Topic: How much should I charge? - Page: 1

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The manager at a high end restaurant in my city is interested in purchasing some music from me. I've got more than 20,000 music mp3s.

She suggested perhaps I could create for her CDs of mp3 tracks.

I'm ok with this and know you can fit approximately 100 songs per CD.

Question is, how much should I charger her per CD?

Does anyone here have any advise on how I should set this arrangement up to maximize my profits?

Thanks in advance.

Sirslick
 
Posted Mon 14 Dec 09 @ 6:37 pm
You do know it's probably illegal to sell music this way?

It would be here in the U.S. and I can't believe the U.K. would be any different.

I'm sure one of the U.K. peeps will chime in. (Come on Tayla I'm waiting, I know you are lurking out there)
 
not being a kill joy but... talking on public forums about this illegal stuff may get you errmm mentioned.
 
It would certainly be regarded as illegal in Ireland. But I suspect like other countries, this hasn't been tested in a court of law, yet.

sirslick, I'd check out the laws in Canada first, if I were you, before venturing down this road!

As highlighted in this article, a first-sale rights probably won't apply in the resale of mp3's.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10120951-93.html

Not sure if the law has been tested or ruled on since that article... If anyone knows, please speak!
 
I am the kind of guy that if it sounds wrong, feels wrong, or you have to think if it's wrong ----- it probably is wrong! If you do plan on selling them, make enough to cover the fines and still have a profit! However, this doesn't sound like something I would get in to.
 
I expect this would be highly illegal no matter where in the world you are from. Thats why there are download sites like itunes that pay the record companies (and therefore the artists) for the rights to distribute music.

If you make a killer track, would you be happy that there are people out there making a profit from your music for just downloading and burning a cd?

Send them to itunes...
 
sirslick wrote :
The manager at a high end restaurant in my city is interested in purchasing some music from me. I've got more than 20,000 music mp3s.

She suggested perhaps I could create for her CDs of mp3 tracks.

I'm ok with this and know you can fit approximately 100 songs per CD.



You need to understand before you embark on this little adventure..
This is 100% illegal.. not a little bit.. its completely illegal..

and it carries a steep price..if caught (under the new Canadian copywrite laws) you can by fined $200 per song!

of course, in Canada the AVLA is nothing like the RIAA.. the chances of you getting caught is pretty small.

the thing is.. selling the music increases your chances of getting caught a thousand fold (compared to a DJ who breaks the copywrite law by making multiple copies for himself..)

Thing is.. in your case. alls the AVLA needs is a witness.. just one.. and they can wipe you out financially..

think about it.. if someone ever rats you out.. do you think this 'restaurant manager' is going to go out of her way to save your butt? she didnt break the law... you did..
matter of fact, by selling her those songs, that manager now OWNS YOU! you ever piss her off, she can turn you in herself!

P.S.

DO NOT go by the fact that you have NEVER heard of anyone getting nailed for breaking the copywrite law..
1.) over 95% of the cases in Canada are dealt with 'out of court' and are never publicized.
2.) and the laws have just recently changed.. and trust me.. they are pretty scary..
 
Totally illegal! Besides, even if it was legal, why would she want them on CD??? Has she never heard of an external hard drive or an iPod. Hell, you may as well put the songs on cassette tape. My advice would be to charge her $5,000,000.00 to cover your ass when the AVLA comes knocking at your door.
 
I don't care if it's illegal or not to be honest however selling someone your music is a stupid thing to do, all it will do is circulate round your area and you'll see loads of people buying made in China gear or used in competition with you and you won't be able to compete because they'll be so cheap.
 
tempting isnt it? the formula for what to charge is simple enough - $200 + court costs, attorney fees, bail money, etc. PER SONG!

so if this is the manager of an upscale eatery doing this, then i gotta wonder. what else is she getting cheap on?... any reports of food poisoning from this place?
 
Charlie, You may be on to something, here's my idea.

I take all my music and rip it to 64kbs then sell it REALLY CHEAP. Once it circulates around the area all the other DJ's will sound like crap while I'm cranking my quality .wav files.....Mmmmmmm?
 
Get the money off her and give her some blank discs n run, get money in advance.
 
Charlie Wilson wrote :
Get the money off her and give her some blank discs n run, get money in advance.



my man you sound like you have al lil hustla in you..lolololol
 
not to sound wierd but does anyone else not realise that if this woman wants music in her restaurant that you should sell her it for like £10 an hour.... or cheaper if its a regular slot..

you should tell her this, selling mp3's is illegal "so" ill ring my equipment and set it up and perform live to your punters... if there isnt enough space for your setup then you could always just take along your laptop, RMX, etc and hook up to her sound system..i know this sounds strange but it would be much much more proffitable than selling illegal cd's...

im sure she will understand that you are not prepared to risk a criminal record for the sake of a few cd's. if she's that desperate then just mention torrents to her and tell her to download her own illegal content..
 
It's prob a 12 hour a day background music affair you wouldn't get booked for it!
 
mistah_p wrote :
Charlie Wilson wrote :
Get the money off her and give her some blank discs n run, get money in advance.



my man you sound like you have al lil hustla in you..lolololol


2 Right I do! Con them as they con u
 
Thanks everyone. Great advice!

But here's what I found out from SOCAN - the Canadian copyright collective that administers and collect licence fees on behalf of artists, publishers & composers and distributes royalties to them:

The restaurant would need just a SOCAN license for 'background music'. Cost is about $100 CDN a year per 1,000 square feet. That license allows them to play whatever music they want. Background music is considered a 'public performance.'

As a DJ, I already have an AVLA digita hard drivel license which allows me to play music at gigs.

I want to be totally legit with this possible service I'm providing and will have the restaurant contact SOCAN directly to get a license.
 
sirslick wrote :
Thanks everyone. Great advice!

but I get the feeling your either not listening to it or you dont understand..

sirslick wrote :
but here's what I found out from SOCAN - the Canadian copyright collective that administers and collect licence fees on behalf of artists, publishers & composers and distributes royalties to them:

first go back to the SOCAN website
www.socan.ca
and reread what it says.. SOCAN handles the PERFORMANCE rights..
It doesnt matter if the venue wants a live band, DJ, or a guy playing the spoons over a phone.. If the venue is playing music for the public they have to pay SOCAN fee's..

sirslick wrote :
The restaurant would need just a SOCAN license for 'background music'. Cost is about $100 CDN a year per 1,000 square feet. That license allows them to play whatever music they want. Background music is considered a 'public performance.'

CORRECT.. but SOCAN doesnt ask where the music comes from. they simply allow venues to play music for the public..
If the venue itself WAS caught using illegal music, they could lose their SOCAN license AND their liquor license...

sirslick wrote :
As a DJ, I already have an AVLA digita hard drive license which allows me to play music at gigs.

NO.. NO IT DOESNT.. the SOCAN fee that the venue pays allows YOU to play music for the public..
The DJ digital license from AVLA allows you to COPY your store bought CD's onto a single hard drive. This hard drive can ONLY be used by your company and cannot be rented or sold..

http://www.avla2007.ca/

The ONLY way YOU can legally sell music is if you get an AVLA distribution license (like promo-only or ERG has..)
YOU are NOT going to get that license.. The deposit alone costs at least $7000.00.

sirslick wrote :
I want to be totally legit with this possible service I'm providing and will have the restaurant contact SOCAN directly to get a license.


Selling the music is completely illegal.. no matter what you do..

The only way I can think around it is..
if you purchase a second AVLA hard drive license... also purchase another computer..
Have the Restaurant HIRE YOUR COMPANY to come in and 'perform'..

and since how a DJ "performs" is open to interpretation, its pretty hard to say that if you came in monday morning.. connected up the laptop.. pressed play.. and later on came back and hit 'stop' , that it wasnt a 'performance'..

of course.. this is dangerous too.. if someone catches on that your not 'really' performing, but in fact 'renting' your music.. you could still get in trouble..
 
Sounds to me mate that no matter how it's dressed-up, you're still breaking the law!

My advice, and advice from lots of others here is, don't venture down that road!

Personally, regardless of law interpetations or law cases proved or unproven, it's not an area I'd like to dip my toe into.

Steer clear...just say no...
 
sirslick wrote :
The manager at a high end restaurant in my city is interested in purchasing some music from me. I've got more than 20,000 music mp3s.

She suggested perhaps I could create for her CDs of mp3 tracks.

I'm ok with this and know you can fit approximately 100 songs per CD.

Question is, how much should I charger her per CD?

Does anyone here have any advise on how I should set this arrangement up to maximize my profits?

Thanks in advance.

Sirslick


Go to the record store, buy the various compilations that these songs come on, take them to her, give her the receipt(s) (as proof of ownership), collect the money for the amount on the receipt(s) and then a bill to cover your time selecting and buying said compilation CD's.

Also tell her you can provide the same service, for the same fee every month, quarter etc, to keep her "legal" music collection up to date.

No law broken, she's got the music she wants, you have been paid for your time and effort.

Simples!

Roy
 
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