RE: [Harp-L] Harry Fox and CD Baby Publishing rights

[Tom Ball <havaball@xxxxxxx>]

It was asked:
My band has a new CD out that we will be putting on CD Baby and this 
one contains 2 cover songs.  I have purchased a mechanical license 
for them from Harry Fox.  Does anyone know if this covers the 
publishing rights for a CD Baby release.  I can't understand the CD 
Baby requirements language and the Harry Fox site doesn't really 
explain it either. I know some of you have CDs on CD Baby so was 
wondering if there was an easy way to understand what I need to do 
beyond the mechanical license for the covers.
----------

Since you've purchased the mechanical licenses for the two covers 
from Harry Fox, (and I assume you've prepaid HFA for the first 500 
sales,) you have no worries regarding CDBaby.  CDBaby is simply an 
online record store; they happen to be a very efficient and honest 
one, and there is really nothing tricky about them with regards to 
licensing.

To be 1000% safe that you aren't stepping on any toes with regard to 
licensing, you might consider this: CDBaby will give you an 
opportunity to pick and choose which of your songs you wish to 
provide sample MP3s of on their site.  Although it's a very long shot 
that any publisher might harass you over internet broadcast rights, 
technically you probably shouldn't sample the two cover songs on the 
CDBaby web site. The repeated playing of those sample MP3s could be 
enough for some hardass publisher to bug you for a micro-fraction of 
a cent per internet play....

Again, it's a REAL long shot that anyone would ever notice -- but if 
you want to play it 1000% safe, I'd say skip the cover songs when you 
get around to offering samples. Otherwise, you've already done all 
you need to do.  Let 'er rip and good luck to you!

cheers,
Tom Ball
(NOT an attorney - just a muso.)