DKspf4
Joined: Jan 26, 2008
Posts: 14
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Posted on Nov 24 2008 09:45 AM
Hi All,
In addition to playing, composing and "livin'/lovin" the surf instro, as most of us do, can we get some insight and shared experiences on generating royalty income(or selling songs) with contemporary surf music...
I know there are some nice stories out there like Mels' and others who have checks coming in from the great stuff in this genre.
Movies, Advertising, Gaming, SonicBids?
What are your stories and tips for those looking to do it.
Also publishing discussion; ie BMI, ASCAP, Etc...Thanks!
DK/SPF-4
http://www.spf-4.com
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Jagshark
Joined: Nov 05, 2008
Posts: 745
Colorado, home of The Astronauts
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Posted on Dec 02 2008 10:19 AM
I can't speak to royalty income from "surf" music, but I receive royalty income from other instrumentals I've written.
So far I've worked with one guy who is an 'old school' publisher ~ meaning he pushes individual songs he likes. One recent use was on the Forensic Files. Most of my stuff is used as background for various small potatoes cable shows. If you can get something into prime-time u.s. network, that's where the bigger money is. Or some blockbuster movie with a soundtrack (so far I've managed some no name German film, lol).
I've tried Pump Audio, but my music was not what they needed. Have not tried Sonic Bids.
Basically you want to find a person or company who have a decent reputation and who likes your music. Be careful because there are a lot of scammers out there.
— (defunct) Thee Jaguar Sharks
Plus! Other stuff not surf: https://soundcloud.com/jamesmileshq
Enjoy every minute
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Ruhar
Joined: Jun 21, 2007
Posts: 3909
San Diego, CA
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Posted on Dec 02 2008 10:25 AM
My previous band, Surf Report, was played quite a bit on one of the MTV Real World seasons (San Diego season) and we received a bit of royalties from that. Nothing to write home about that's for sure.
I tried out SonicBids for a while (only because my CD manufacturer offered a 6 month free membership as part of their package). I didn't see much value there for me so I cancelled after the 6 month freebie.
Definitely get all your original music registered with BMI, ASCAP, etc. You never know.
— Ryan
The Secret Samurai Website
The Secret Samurai on Facebook
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Kawentzmann
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1062
Berlin, Germany
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Posted on Dec 02 2008 02:20 PM
Old school publishers are the best. But there are various kinds. Obviously they should be somewhat specialized in movie/tv/ad placement. One of my solo recordings made it onto several compilations, but thats nothing compared to the royalties it got for one un-known German film. I have more on tv in march, more about that later. This time without a publisher, but through the internet. I tried Pump, but they havent done anything for me, and being in Germany, its a lot of paperwork and mailing back and forth to have the forms ready for US tax department.
— The Exotic Guitar of Kahuna Kawentzmann
You can get the boy out of the Keynes era, but you can’t get the Keynes era out of the boy.
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surfer
Joined: Apr 12, 2007
Posts: 428
South Florida
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Posted on Dec 02 2008 03:24 PM
We have six songs in a new surf movie just released (will post more soon) and two others, due to be released in major features. I still go to work every day.
— www.cutbacksurfband.com
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BoardwalkerJeff
Joined: Jan 24, 2008
Posts: 376
Santa Monica, Ca.
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Posted on Dec 02 2008 10:03 PM
Pete Curry (Halibuts) said he got some nice checks after being listed with Muzak. mostly being played in bars and restaurants on the loop. Islands was one joint.
I heard PJ and Artie on the loop at Rubios just last week. I wonder if they have a service?
The ex-old lady, Pamita Neptuna got a few nice ones ($700.00+)from having a song in the Carrot Top movie, an ESPN sports show and her song used as a sports bump in Europe. she still gets checks from the Europe deal...
I know Pam is BMI, don't know about Pete.
— Jeff Utterback
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surfer
Joined: Apr 12, 2007
Posts: 428
South Florida
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Posted on Dec 03 2008 08:00 AM
Actually, BoardwalkerJeff makes a good point. There are subscription music services like Muzak, that will pay per spin for original / not published tunes. Trusonic and PC Music in Canada are two. I own a sound company as the day job, and am a dealer for both products.
— www.cutbacksurfband.com
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LosDerrumbes
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 58
Santander, Spain
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Posted on Dec 03 2008 10:44 AM
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Twangler
Joined: Mar 26, 2006
Posts: 147
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Posted on Dec 09 2008 09:43 PM
A long time ago an atlanta film maker approached us about using some songs in his upcoming film about a Private eye bee bopping around Atlanta. Thankfully we would not give permission until we first saw the script. Turns out it was a gay porno flick. The discussions ended before we got around to discussing royalties.
023
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25598
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Dec 09 2008 09:48 PM
So if the money was big, does that mean you still wouldn't have done it?
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
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BoardwalkerJeff
Joined: Jan 24, 2008
Posts: 376
Santa Monica, Ca.
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Posted on Dec 09 2008 10:51 PM
I would of so done it for the kitch factor...
— Jeff Utterback
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Jon
Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 1076
Columbus, OH
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Posted on Dec 10 2008 01:51 AM
Whew, good thing you didn't do it. What would people who have no idea who you are think about you?
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Kawentzmann
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1062
Berlin, Germany
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Posted on Dec 10 2008 03:11 AM
Jon
Whew, good thing you didn't do it. What would people who have no idea who you are think about you?
Maybe:
This is great surf music in this gay prono film Im just watching.
?
— The Exotic Guitar of Kahuna Kawentzmann
You can get the boy out of the Keynes era, but you can’t get the Keynes era out of the boy.
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Jon
Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 1076
Columbus, OH
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Posted on Dec 10 2008 09:17 AM
That is a good possibility.
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norcalhodad
Joined: May 25, 2006
Posts: 537
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Posted on Dec 10 2008 10:14 AM
This is The Penetrators, right? 
—  > 
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LosDerrumbes
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 58
Santander, Spain
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Posted on Dec 10 2008 11:51 AM
Our music has been featured in a couple of porn flicks, one of them of S/M content and I don't even know about the other. Oh, also at the youtube trailer of a comic about lesbian pirates!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iijZ2dFzotg
Why not? - I'm lesbian, I like women... 
— http://www.myspace.com/losderrumbes
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ElMonstroPorFavor
Joined: Sep 01, 2006
Posts: 2732
New Orleans, LA
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Posted on Dec 10 2008 01:30 PM
I would much rather surf than typical porno music, please everybody accept these gigs and make a change in the world
*not gay but maybe it'll crossover into straight
— Storm Surge of Reverb: Surf & Instro Radio
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Kawentzmann
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1062
Berlin, Germany
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Posted on Dec 10 2008 01:33 PM
norcalhodad
This is The Penetrators, right?
But there was a 3rd wave gay Surf band from S.F., The Car Thieves or something.
— The Exotic Guitar of Kahuna Kawentzmann
You can get the boy out of the Keynes era, but you can’t get the Keynes era out of the boy.
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DelBrent
Joined: Dec 10, 2008
Posts: 38
Long Beach, CA
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Posted on Dec 10 2008 03:08 PM
Del Noah and the Mt. Ararat Finks had four songs in a late 90's low budget comedy called THE GODSON, starring Rodney Dangerfield and Dom DeLuise. I went to the preview/premiere of it, but it never played theaters. I didn't think any more about it until a couple of years later, when all of a sudden it started showing up on cable TV all over the place, then I started getting BMI statements for my songs which lasted for a few years.
We also had a lot of real short song bits used in various "action sports" shows, and in various countries. It's really hilarious looking at the breakdown of shows, countries, and how much time of songs they used (the one that stands out is I remember a Fox NFL pregame show used "0:07 seconds" of our song "Hole Shot". I've tried to figure out what 7 seconds that was, and how many notes you could actually recognize in that short of time!)
The royalties weren't exactly a lot of money (enough to use for recording or buying a few instruments, I guess) but considering how little money is typically made via gigs, CDs, etc., from my small experience as a "musical hobbyist" it would seem that TV/royalties via BMI/ASCAP are the "purest" form of a musician/songwriter's money actually trickling into his/her pocket (without any creative accounting diversions).
— Ding Dong Devils:
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/dingdongdevils
http://www.facebook.com/dingdongdevils
Del Noah & the Mt. Ararat Finks:
http://www.myspace.com/delnoahandthemtararatfinks
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revmike
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3812
North Atlantic
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Posted on Dec 10 2008 07:26 PM
We've done pretty well with royalties from radio/ tv/ movies/ web. Certainly not enough to retire on, but a cheque from SOCAN (Canada's BMI/ASCAP) shows up every 3 months.
We had a dozen or so songs licensed for a kids series (15/Love) that is shown in Canada & Europe. That has been the most "lucrative in terms of royalties.
Networking with local film makers has been the best for getting our songs placed. Also, a lot of the stuff comes out of the blue from various points around the world, which is surprising when it happens, and cool.
On occassion I'll get asked to write an original piece for something. More often than not, one of our already recorded tunes is licensed.
Rev
— Canadian Surf
http://www.urbansurfkings.com/
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