I enjoyed this article,it was very relevant to the times of where the business is heading and trust me on this even as the most far out artist you have got to be about business.The first page after your creation is your copyright with the library of congress.(us artists)That is what the judge wants to see because that makes it easy.That makes for the In total declaration of the magical words "first use."Everything else leaves you to prove heresay in a court of law.And this is a sea swimming with sharks.somebody else walked away with your hit,FOR FREE,the only one you may ever have and you cannot prove first use on a pro level.And you are quite effectively SCREWED and nobody wants to hear it either.In the biz they call that done like dinner.You are shark food.The next page is that even as unlikley as it is that you may ever realize your dreams you have retained a music business attorney.Music law is the most complicated law on the books.It requires a specialist with a proven track record.Not an attorney who is going to learn it.This may be a very capable attorney in other matters yet as I say you need a specialist.And you have done page one.When I get to a point that I am recording a composition I am not doing fun and games.I am a businessman and this is my business.I am working a hit.I have first use and if you want to play me you will never forget how I slayed you in court walking out with your ass in my hands.page three you want to join a performance rights society as a writer member and ideally as a publisher member too.BMI will tell you right up front that they are mostly geared to major label artists,which is true and sensible.I am an ASCAP member.And the same is true with them,right now it is just the way it is.You want to have your professional credentials together.Page 4 would be sound exchange yet I would do the other pages first.You may be broke and struggling yet you are recognized by a certain peer group within the biz to be a professional.This very floaty demonstartion of if you recorded it you hold certain rights.In a court of law that is held as interpretation.You pack this pistol I am giving you and you will be straight.The figure it outs well perhaps one day they will figure it out.But it sounds to me like they are going to get screwed,and understand this also the point of view from the one doing the screwing is that they are taking advantage of a good deal.You in a "leap of faith" did not have your little butt covered and you stand up in court against a powerhouse like Warner Brothers and say "My friend Johnny and his girlfriend and my Mom swear that I wrote this tune.I sent it to myself in a registered letter that I did not open.The judge will not open it either,for the court to listen to.. whatever is on that is MOOT.If you can't run with the big dogs you have to stay on the porch with the puppies.renelabre.com