Music Copyright Tips

News - General News

Thursday, 18 February 2010 19:12

As a Music Business student i believe it's appropriate to share some of my experience with my fellow brothers and sisters who are also in the music industry but not got the opportunity to do the course or let's say preoccupied with something else. However i will be sharing regular articles from now on about some of the basic things everyone involved in the Creative Industries inorder to keep ourselves on the right track. Some of the work will be a form of pointing folks to different resources and how best to access them. 

What is copyright?

Copyright protects original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, sound recordings, films, broadcasts and the typographical arrangement of a published edition (ie how it looks on the page). The legal framework for copyright (one type of intellectual property) is the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 [CDPA] as amended.

Copyright in a song

Every song comprises two copyright works:

• The music itself (a musical work)

• The lyrics/words (a literary work)

How do I protect my music?

Formalities for protecting copyright

There is no need to register a work in order to secure copyright protection. It is protected by copyright if it satisfies the eligibility criteria outlined below. It is advisable but not essential to register copyright in a work in the USA if it is likely to be exploited there. Registration enables one to claim a higher level of damages against someone who is found in any legal action to have infringed that copyright in the USA and to recover legal costs.

Precautionary measures

Let people know that you believe your music is protected by copyright:

You should always write the international copyright symbol ©, the name of the copyright owner (i.e. you the composer or any publisher to whom the copyright may have been assigned) and the year in which the work was first published (or written if not yet published) in a prominent position on the original and every copy of the work. This will put users on notice of the fact that the work may be protected by copyright but it does not of itself confer protection.

Date the work:

By taking one of the following measures you can create and preserve evidence of the fact that your work was in existence at a certain date. This could be very useful if you ever need to pursue a claim for infringement of copyright as it may help your case if you are able to prove that your work existed before the allegedly infringing work was written. This is only useful for evidential purposes. It will still be necessary to prove that the composer of the offending work heard or had access to your work in order to prove that your copyright has been infringed.

1. Put a copy of the work (on paper or as an audio recording) in an envelope, sign your name across the seal(s) of the envelope and send it to yourself by registered post. Do NOT open the envelope on receipt but store the package in a safe place until such time as you may need it in the course of any legal proceedings. It is wise to note the title of the work on the envelope for your future reference. It is the date stamp coupled with the fact that the package is unopened that constitutes the crucial evidence.

2. Lodge a copy of the work (on paper or on tape) with your bank or solicitor and obtain a dated receipt.

 Today's article is an extract of the Music Publishers Association (MPA) website and its just a rough info more detail can be found on their website.

Any questions regarding this article or anyone wishing to know more or even contribute to the site can email:- This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Raz-C releases I PRAY his first single with Gambuster

News - New Releases

Thursday, 18 February 2010 18:06

Congratulations to Rac-C first of all for signing with Gambuster Records. The young Gambian aka Beak Killah his released his first official since hes signed his musical career with Gambuster Records putting up his trust and confidence in the Label as it's first fficial artist.

The Song is more about reassuring oneself to keep the faith and pray for a better day. It's also about praying for world peace wishing  your brothers and sisters to have a better life. The deepness of the song means anybody can relate to it regardless of race, colour or crede.

Raz also goes on to pay tribute to the victims of the Haiti earth quake which happened earlier in the year. Honestly speaking the feeling and emotion put into the song makes it one of his lyrically conscious tunes upto date.

The song is available for free with the Gambuster Newsletter before it hit the radios since he's dedicated it to the fans and everyone out there looking forward to that day of freedom. It will be available on the radios near you in the next few weeks. It will also be available through the website from tomorrow and on his myspace ang Gambuster myspace aswell. Keep a look out for Raz-C 2010 is all about working hard and hes already got his belt tightened up.

Jumpin Lyrics by Jay Tose & Matt U

News - General News

Thursday, 18 February 2010 02:53

Special thanks to Jay-T for sharing with us his Jumpin Lyrics and hope every other artist follow suit. This however is a promotional tool for the artists thereby helping them gather a different audience and to help them understand your songs word for word. Makes life easier for them anyway jus like modern day technology really. Feel it yaw.....

A quick chat with Jay Tose

News - Interviews

Thursday, 18 February 2010 02:15

A quick chat with Jay Tose about the hit single Jumpin which featured American rapper    Matt-U. Let's say it's nothing too serious talking about life, the game and wat magic happened in the studio which led to the hit single and some dreams and secrets you know what it is. Let me not bore you any longer that's how the conversations went down. Be warned after reading you might be tempted to go into studios lol, nah only kidding jus read on....

Serign-B:- Where can I start? First of all congrats on the appointment of your new manager and wishing all you guys at AABT the best of luck in 2010.

Jay-T:- Thanks alot and likewise on Gambuster. I see you boys doing it and on my behalf your services are highly appreciated and respected.

Jay-T:- Well i was in the studio one fine day recording a song and then i was appointed the duty of doing the intro and from no where i came out with ALL ABOUT BIG THINGS referring to the fact that i am only about big things and if it ain't big then we not on it. Just another metaphor really forget busy and don't waiste your precious time on this earth. Since then it has been continuing and later developed into what it is today, which is a legitimate record company runned by myself Jay Tose with the help of various others. We later shortened it to AABT which we also found appealing to the tongue.

Serign-B:- Waw! Can you tell me a bit about the smashing single "JUMPIN" ft MATT U the American rapper, How did you guys meet and what was the idea behind the whole song?

Jay-T:- The Jumpin was a major breakthough on my part as it opened many doors for me and granted me the opportunity to get more busy in my music career. Me and Matt U met through myspace as we were feeling eachothers music and then later decided to work together. After a few months planning it became what u see today and what we like to call Jumpin. I traveled to the United states to record the single and also shoot the music video which we successfully did. The purpose behind Jumpin was to bring my music to a wider audience which it succeeded in doing as it attracted many new fans and admireres my way. Much love to all the fan, you guys motivate me to keep doing this.

Jay-T:- The video was directed by Kenneth Paul. Not really our production company hired his services. I was really pleased with his work as the video came out professional and met my expectations. 

Serign-B:- You have now made a name for yourself and AABT and you're still not signed to any major labels do you prefer that or you would prefer a much busier label with worldwide recognision say Gambia's Akon lol ha ha?

Jay-T:- Well i wouldnt mind going major but truth be told am not really complaining. I already have labels showing great interest but as for now i am not at liberty to reveal too much on that matter.  i have a plan and purpose with my music and it is only at AABT i can fullfill my ambitions however i please. So as for today i am very satisfied with AABT and we're only gonna get bigger and bigger INSHALLAH as we're about big things.

Jay-T:- Am hoping for the best :)

Serign-B:- Can you tell me one thing you would do when you signed, do you have any luxorious fantasies you want to fulfill or you gona stay grounded lol?

Jay-T:- Truth be told i have alot of luxurious dreams as am only human, but my biggest dream to be honest is to be able to be granted the opportunity to help out poor communities in my home country of Gambia and also rest of Africa. Children bring out the best in me and i believe theyouths are the future. So however the effort may be as long as i know that i
have made a difference in someones life positivly i will be very happy. It is only today i write club songs and a lil gangster rap here and there, but all that is just entertainment to help me reach my goal which is to attract more listeners and equal minded people, but my true ambition with my music is to preach a message of love and understanding as i consider myself an enemy of the world we live in today. Thats why my album is gonna be called (THE MENTALITY OF TODAYS YOUNG & GIFTED) meaning to show how the youths of
today think. In my album you may hear alot of songs about profanity, violence, greed etc. all this is to express the mindset of the youths of today but my true message is to express how wrong all this is and that people need to open their eyes. Thats why it says GIFTED on the album cuz i wanna express that we are very blessed and gifted, i just think its a shame we don't use these beautiful traits to its full extent. Right now am just hoping for the best, hopefully i change a few lives for the better with my music and then my work is done, probably will retire in Africa running a cornershop or something and devote myself to Allah as i know this life isn't really life. Allahu Akbhar

Young Gambian speaks about the music industry

News - General News

Thursday, 18 February 2010 01:19

As concerned and patriotic Gambians, a young interested Ebrima Nyassi has a few words which he would like to share with fellow brothers in the Gambian music scene and support for the artists and those involved. His story reads on.....

FOR THE GAMBIA OUR HOMELAND!

The strengthening and upliftment of our music industry and our dear brothers and sister artists should be the business and battle of each and everyone. The fight, start from the recording studio, to the promoters down to the radio stations and podiums, to our executive and parliamentary levels. Even the judiciary and when it comes to the violation of the copyrights law and the paying of royalties.  To start with the artists, they are doing tremendously well in terms of quality in message, stage performance, confidence and that syndrome of feeling, inferior to artists of other nations. Saying all this doesn't mean they've done it but very close it
and its just a matter of taking the music as a career. The producers should try to keep on the trend of producing quality as it's the case these days with the advent of studios like Shyboy, G-Clic, Mediamatic etc has boosted the quality in sounds produced. If at least each and every studio can endeavour to produce each a line-up at least every two to three months and include or feature many junior artists, this will enhance the income generation of both the studio and the artists which will enable junior artists get small money from the sales of these line-ups to be able to record many more on their own. This will reduce the scarcity of funds to record.

The promoters are doing good too but there are others are that are hypocrites, cheats, exploiters, self-centered, selfish who will not stop at nothing to destroying their own brothers and sisters. They use them and treat them low in front of foreign artists on their own soil, on the same stage which is weird.  More shows in neighbourhoods like the Open Mic are much in need and if another body like that of the Black Linx/Afric Alliance can come up with things like this, the people will really get to know and appreciate our music and artists. I suggest the Music Union discuss with KMC to use the Buffer Zone for a thing a festival every weekend to feature Gambian. This I belief will greatly help.

The Radio stations have now kind of appreciating our artists and music because a lot of Gambian music daily but still ours should be dominant and not hourly programmes as if we in another country not ours. There are Gambians playing those types of music, be it RnB, Reggae Dancehall, Hip Hop, Rap, Ndaga, Kora but the most flabbergasting thing is if they are playing lets say Ndaga, they forget that we have Pa Omar Jack, Yusupha Ngum, Diha, Oumie Ngum Maisa, Kara, Tapha Artists to name but a few, but do you hear. Foreign. The
same thing for Rap, they forget we have the Trouble Smallz, Tam 50, M Nizzle, Big Ams, Mo Hawk, G MO, etc but what do you hear Foreign. Reggae is also in the same radar and we have the likes of Rebellion, Mystic MC, Mandingo, Jah Michael, Hard Breaker, Junior K, Hurricane, Benjamin, Njie B and the list goes on and on and on and this sometimes makes me wonder why the need to be listening to foreign music all the time then why are our artists toiling day and night, come rain come shine. Even in adverts, they only play foreign music as background tunes. Our priority should be to bring our artists to prominence. They should in every type of music blend in more of our musicians and the foreign ones. That's the fight they can do for the artists and the industry as a whole.

The private sector too has a big role to play in this struggle and lets say for example all the big companies like all the GSM Operators, the banks etc can each sponsor at least ten artists to produce albums a year will be a big boost and will make a big impact and success which
will push us further. We have quality and international standards and I don't see any reason why we can't make it. The general public should be buying these albums our artists are producing and stop the begging of copies from artists, bootlegging, borrowing etc. We should turn out in numbers to attend shows so that our artists survive. We should pride in them, appreciate them, buy their music, listen to it, talk about the music and the artists etc. But none the less, let's keep the struggle because there is light at the end of the tunnel. Just as the saying goes: Alluta Continua, Victoria Ascertain and I so much belief in this.

GAMBIA
FORWARD!

                                              
REST IN PEACE MUSA NJIE

This great figure and soldier, who fought for the Gambian Music and Artists to his last breath. He is someone many will live to remember for years yet to come. A man full of life, sense of humour, humility and very openminded. I can remember meeting him in my native village, Bwiam around 2000 enroute from Kanilai. He is the kind who will make you laugh, happy at any time. Never frowns. I wish to extend  heartfelt condolences to his family, Paradise Fm and Penchabi. May his soul rest in perfect peace, Ameen.                                               

Story contributed by: EBRAHIMA NYASSI (ebXin)