SOUNDEXCHANGE TO NOTIFY THOSE OWED ROYALTIES
Sep 26, 2006 12:28 PM
SoundExchange is embarking on a major campaign to reach approximately 9,000 unregistered recording artists and approximately 2,000 unregistered independent record labels, as the deadline fast approaches to sign up to receive digital performance royalties collected during between 1996 and 2000.
Under federal law, royalties that are not claimed by recording artists and record labels within three years of SoundExchange's receipt of such royalties are forfeited, and the royalties are applied to offset actual costs incurred in the collection, distribution, establishment and enforcement of statutory royalties. The SoundExchange Board of Directors, jointly controlled by representatives of recording artists and record labels, has extended that deadline on numerous occasions; however, claims to royalties paid for the years 1996 through March 31, 2000 will not be accepted after Dec. 15, 2006.
In an effort to educate and notify recording artists of their entitlement to royalties, SoundExchange has worked with the major record labels, independent labels, The Recording Academy, CD Baby, Celebrity Access, Disc Makers, The Blues Foundation, The Vocal Group Hall of Fame, American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), The Folk Alliance, IAJE, ASCAP, SESAC, BMI and numerous others, including many individual artist-management companies, business management firms and law firms to notify approximately 22,000 recording artists of the royalties they may be entitled to under federal law with the passage of the Digital Performance Right in Sound Recordings Act of 1995 and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998. SoundExchange executives and staff have also located and registered performers through their participation at music-industry events including the Vocal Group Hall of Fame induction ceremony, SXSW, MIDEM and scores of music conferences across the United States, Europe and Canada.
Registrations at SoundExchange have increased dramatically over the past two years; however, there are still approximately 9,000 recording artists at risk of forfeiting royalties if they do not register with SoundExchange by Dec. 15, 2006. In a final attempt to notify unregistered record labels and recording artists or their heirs that they are at risk of forfeiting royalties, SoundExchange has published the list of names on its Website, www.soundexchange.com, 90 days prior to the Dec. 15, 2006 deadline.
Registration forms are available for download at www.soundexchange.com, or one may call SoundExchange at (202) 828-0120 to request copies by fax, e-mail or U.S. Mail. Registration materials must be postmarked or faxed to SoundExchange by Dec. 15, 2006.
| Want to use this article? Click here for options! |  |
