Step 4 - Copyright and Publishing.

As an artist, protecting your work is important, and this is where copyright and publishing come in. Copyrighting your material is an essential step to safeguard your creative output from infringement and plagiarism. Additionally, publishing your material is vital to ensure that you receive payment for your work whenever it is performed in public. In this step, we will guide you through the process of copyrighting your work and publishing it to ensure that you are properly credited and compensated.

Copyrighting your material

To copyright your work, you can either do it yourself or hire an attorney to do it for you. The process of copyrighting involves registering your work with the appropriate authorities, providing evidence that the work is original, and paying the required fees. Once your work is copyrighted, you have the legal right to use, reproduce, or distribute the material. The Gold Package provides step-by-step instructions on how to copyright your work. You can also find more information on the U.S. Copyright Office website at http://copyright.gov.

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Publishing your material:

Publishing your material is crucial to ensure that you receive payment for your work. When your music is played in public, you are entitled to receive royalties. To collect these royalties, you need to be affiliated with a performance rights organization (PRO) such as ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC. These organizations collect royalties on behalf of their members and distribute the payments to the appropriate artists. To join a PRO, you can either fill out an online application yourself or hire an attorney to guide you through the process.

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A few online tools for music artists and businesses.

We can guarentee you will find a useful new tool below to help elevate your career in some way. If you have any feedback on any of the tools listed here, or if you know of any we should add to this list, just let us know on the form below. We will be adding more tools to this page soon, so bookmark it NOW, and come back to this page often to find and test new tools frequently.

Sign your own artists

Once you have built your own production company and studio, you can start signing your own artists. This can be a great way to create opportunities for yourself and others, and to generate residual income. Here are some steps to take when signing your own artists:

Discover new talent: The first step to signing your own artists is to discover new talent. This can involve attending live performances, listening to demos, and scouting online. You should look for artists who fit with your company's vision and style.

Negotiate a contract: Once you have found an artist you want to sign, you should negotiate a contract. This should include details such as the length of the contract, the amount of money the artist will receive, and any other terms and conditions.

Develop the artist: Once you have signed an artist, you should work on developing their talent and career. This can involve providing them with resources such as studio time, equipment, and marketing support. You should also help them build their own network and create opportunities for them to perform and showcase their talent.

Build your own production company

Building your own production company can be a great way to take control of your career and create opportunities for yourself and others. Here are some steps to take when building your own company:

Create a business plan: Before starting your own company, it's important to create a business plan. This should include your goals, strategies, and financial projections. You should also consider factors such as funding, staffing, and marketing.

Register your company: Once you have a business plan in place, you can register your company with the appropriate government agencies. This may include registering your company as an LLC or corporation.

Set up your studio: Setting up a production studio is an important part of building your own company. This should include investing in equipment and software, and setting up a space for recording and mixing.

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