HTML Site::Resources

If you're starting out in the music or motion picture industry, it can be a strange and complex world. Adding in the wonders of online presence management, Internet copyright and promotion, it can seem a little confusing! Even if you don't write your own material, you can dance with the law by creating a website, posting to your weblog, emailing an MP3 to your sister, or even just listening to music online. The Net was a Wild West town for decades, with laws being avoided, ignored or just not applying. Recently the business impacts of the Net have forced laws to change, and attitudes of users to change. It's slowly becoming 'inconsiderate' to grab material for free, but most users of the Net, amateur and professional, find it hard to know what the law will allow. We spend our lives protecting artists and chasing offenders, so it helps if people know the limits - in this section we try and lay things out for you as clearly as we can. All you see on here is free, but worth it.

Browse. Learn.

Links for everyone:

• The Music Industry Dictionary: all our terminology explained.
• Online Copyright information for authors, users and abusers: Our in-depth guide on the copyright laws that control music and video.
• Is the CD dead yet?: One of the questions we get asked more than any other is where the CD is going, what's happening to P2P, DRM and stores full of silver circles. This article puts across our opinions.
• The Future of Music: So where will we all be in 2006? Should we be concerned that our kettle prefers Jazz? Read all about what BF@D are doing to create the future of online music. We're everywhere you know!

If you write or perform music:

• Musicians Assistance Site: Resources for US-based new artists.
• Musicians @ About.com:A collection of links for musicians and industry insiders alike. [POPUPS]
• ThirdWaveCollective: An online community for independent bands aimed at co-operative promotion.
• MusicContracts.com: sells pre-packaged contracts, but has some useful free material as well.

The Industry Players:

• ASCAP: The largest Performance Rights society for mainland USA.
• RIAA: The umbrella organisation representing the majority of record labels in the USA.
• BMI: are the other major Perf Rights body for the USA.
• SESAC: have been in Perf Rights since 1930 but only recently moved into holding mainstream artists - before then they were mostly known for Euro and gospel. They don't accept new holdings off the street though.
• MCPS-PRS: The umbrella organisation in the UK responsible for collecting fees associated with live performances (PRS) and record sales (MCPS).
• Harry Fox: The main US agency issuing mechanical and digital distribution licenses.
• PPL UK: The UK collection agency for broadcast and webcast of recorded music.
• VPL UK: Provider and collection agency for music video broadcast in the UK.

If you're really stuck for an answer to your problems, then you can try dropping us a message. We always read, sometimes help and never compromise!