Imagine if you could buy merch... sell it at concerts etc... digitally only so that the money you paid for the merch is given back to you and the remainder of the money on the sale is split fairly and automatically between you and anyone else entitled to a share.
Imagine if you write songs and people cover your songs...and every single time they sell a copy of one of your songs...you're paid your share immediately and automatically.
Imagine if all financial aspects of the music industry was transparent and fair instead of opaque and sometimes corrupt....
An association of independent accountants could do it for a small fee-per-sale as part of a single entity that sets a world-class standard in bringing the entire music industry into the information age.
I envision a Co-Operative Escrow Service for Creative Projects
An incubator service to enable collaborations and cross-collaborations by providing a neutral 3rd party basic infrastructure (the bank)
Loosely based on the business model of Air BnB
The purpose is to remove the issue of who is responsible for collecting monies on the sale of products and distributing the funds to everyone involved in the project (bypassing the need for a label... open to anyone)
Music
Collaborators can agree in writing (variety of templates available online)
file the agreement and a copy of what they've created online (digitally)
a link is generated for download sales
that's the only link to be used... all sales go through the Co-Op
Disbursements made in accordance with the contract (automated)
for example... I own my own songs... but I'm willing to share equally in net proceeds after Co-op fee on that version of the song including royalties... all physical merchandise to be sold digitally only...via the same online link... but I get the cost per unit off then net then split the remainder with the other collaborators.
They could do the same in the film industry.... they could free people to collaborate on all sorts of projects... set up the splits once and forget about it...
Film
Adverts on spec
Short films
Feature films
Collaborators agree in writing (who pays for what etc...who gets what...)
ex: I did a music video which will be used in part as an advertisement on television and social media:
... actors get travel expenses/tv credit as it's going to run on ITV3/lunch provided*/a page on my website linked to the video... should the video be used commercially... the actors are entitled to royalties paid by their performance rights association.
Producer/Director/Crew... as per agreement...credits...shared expenses itemised in advance... limited shared ownership should the concept/video be picked up by a corporate sponsor...shared payment on that/extensive exposure on tv and social media at no additional cost (i'm promoting the song and have outright freedom to do so...)
Music - mine... as are all income streams on the song itself... absolutely free to do what i want to do with the video...promote etc... as i see fit
CO-OP... file the agreement and copy of what was created online digitally... if there is advertising or other revenue on the video that's to be shared outside of performance rights organisations... it goes to the Co-Op account to be distributed as per the contract... also physical sales of a video (exercise video or film etc...)
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This is exclusive only for the actual project(s) placed in the care of the co-operative and can only be moved when all parties to the contract agree...
Bands form and break-up all the time... their original works can continue to earn income and payment would continue to be equitable
Some creatives will move on...this could be a first-step into life as a professional
This service could also be useful as people learn by doing things... this would expose emerging artists to performance rights organisations and issues surrounding the business side of their art... it could eliminate confusion and rip-off artists etc taking advantage of the ignorance of so many talented people.#
It could be a launching pad and a firm foundation in the basics of being a professional
It could be a very busy, buzzy environment for projects that might end up going global in some cases
Non-binding... artists are free to form alliances...sign with mainstream labels and reps at any time
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I don't have the smarts to set up something like that... but I can imagine it... and if I can imagine it... others can build it one day.
RhondasSongs
