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This week, Harry Fox Agency, who and what is that? Let’s go -
In short the Harry Fox Agency or HFA is a mechanical licencing organization that was established in 1921. They are not the only mechanical licencing organization, but they are the oldest. Now before we go further, let’s review mechanical royalties. Mechanical royalties are royalties that are generated each time a musical composition is reproduced, whether physically or digitally via on-demand streaming or download-to-own services. Basically when a product is mechanically reproduced legally, the songwriter is compensated.
Now back to HFA, though they have several subsidiaries, primarily, they are responsible for licensing and collecting mechanical royalties on behalf of music publishers in the U.S. These royalties include the recording and reproduction of music streams, CD’s, ringtones, and downloads; in other words both physical and digital products. In addition to mechanical licencing, HFA conducts royalty examinations, pursues piracy claims and covers cover songs. With that said HFA is not a PRO - Performance Rights Organization - you remember them right? They collect public performance royalties from public performances as defined by the US Copyright Act, and ensure that payment is issued appropriately. When it comes to cover songs, joining or contacting HFA is one of the ways to obtain a mechanical license for that cover song as long as they administer the musical composition for it. If you plan on releasing a cover song as part of a physical and/or downloadable record, you will need a mechanical license. Not the case if you are releasing a cover strictly on streaming platforms. You secure your license through HFA or the copyright holder themselves if you can get a hold of them. Now some digital distributors have publishing admin third party services such as CD baby pro publishing or TuneCore publishing, but they take a nice chunk of your money, so the best bet is to join HFA or one of the other mechanical licencing organizations yourself to try and get as much of your coin as possible.
This week's #IAOTW - Independent Artists Of The Week is the newest Jewel in R&B, Ruby Camille. She has a new single coming October 1st called "Faded," and you can pre-save your copy on her website and get a free remix of her song "Fun Love" done by last weeks #IAOTW Angelo Michael Martin.
For more information or to hire Unda The Hat as your brand or label consultant send a message via undathehat.com. See you next Tuesday.