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Key Lime Lee wrote:

MikeInNOLA wrote:

ToplessRideFL wrote:All the discussion about Jimmy Buffett and the Reefers' own careers got me to thinking….. (Again!)

How does the BAND get paid? Per show? Per tour? Per hour? Per Year? Per recording session? Are their expenses paid? Hotels, travel etc? What about when they do appearances like for Margaritaville Tequila…or MOTM?

I was watching some show on TV that was talking about how David Lee Roth made money sitting at home because Van Halen performs songs he (DLR) had written. I am not sure how that works, but for someone like Mac who has written many songs for many artists that must be an added bonus.

These are great questions....inquiring minds want to know!

They're called "royalties." If you write a song, you're entitled to them every time it gets played on the radio, tv, recorded on a record or performed live, regardless of who is doing it.

i didn't know that you have you have to pay royalties if you are just performing somebody else's song when it isn't being recorded or anything

RinglingRingling wrote:

Elrod wrote:

Key Lime Lee wrote:They're called "royalties." If you write a song, you're entitled to them every time it gets played on the radio, tv, recorded on a record or performed live, regardless of who is doing it.

Does market/audience size affect the amount of royalties?

Is the fee the same if the song is played by a small-town station or a station in New York City?

I think it is based on listener volume.. Possibly another reason why the Arbitron ratings are so important?

Almost. Arbitron is important because your ratings and demographics attract advertisers and, more or less, dictate what you can charge.

Broadcast royalties are disrtibuted by ASCAP, BMI and SEASAC (Performance Rights Organizations, or PROs).

A songwriter joins one of those three, then the PROs collect licensing fees from tv and radio stations (terrestrial, satellite and internet) based roughly on the size of the market. The licensing fee gives the broadcaster the right to play any song by any artist affiliated with that PRO.

Those three PROs then survey (listen to) the music played by those broadcasters (including what songs and how often) and then based on some complicated formula determine what percentage of the total royalties they collected you're entitled to.

In my case, even with one song in three markets, it always ended up zero. It's a nice letter actually, telling me that ASCAP "regrets" that none of my songs have appeared in their survey this quarter but...

If you have a hit song on the radio you can make substantial money, moreso than from your artists share of record sales. Now there's also a writers share for having your song on a record and that's decent, but it won't make you rich, even if you sell a few million (figure roughly $80,000/song for a platinum record, assuming you're the only writer and you own your publishing)

DsilCaribe wrote:

Key Lime Lee wrote:

MikeInNOLA wrote:

ToplessRideFL wrote:All the discussion about Jimmy Buffett and the Reefers' own careers got me to thinking….. (Again!)

How does the BAND get paid? Per show? Per tour? Per hour? Per Year? Per recording session? Are their expenses paid? Hotels, travel etc? What about when they do appearances like for Margaritaville Tequila…or MOTM?

I was watching some show on TV that was talking about how David Lee Roth made money sitting at home because Van Halen performs songs he (DLR) had written. I am not sure how that works, but for someone like Mac who has written many songs for many artists that must be an added bonus.

These are great questions....inquiring minds want to know!

They're called "royalties." If you write a song, you're entitled to them every time it gets played on the radio, tv, recorded on a record or performed live, regardless of who is doing it.

i didn't know that you have you have to pay royalties if you are just performing somebody else's song when it isn't being recorded or anything

Technically, yes, but in reality I've never run across anyone showing up asking for money and I've done over 1000 shows. Of course generally the venue would be responsible for having the blanket license.

Key Lime Lee wrote:

RinglingRingling wrote:

Elrod wrote:

Key Lime Lee wrote:
Broadcast royalties are disrtibuted by ASCAP, BMI and SEASAC (Performance Rights Organizations, or PROs).

slight hijack sorry

Lee a few weeks ago I was at a Wedding and there was a sign on the Hall
near the Jukebox
something to the effect
"this place of business only plays ( either BMI or Ascap) and will not
play music from (again the other one)

is there a rift???


Carry on..

I remember reading somewhere that the Happy Birthday song writer was a millionairre many times over. Must be that royalty thing. I also recall reading that American Idol had to pay to sing the songs they did. (Didnt follow the show...just saw a headline)

These are great comments. I still wonder if anyone knows about HOW they get paid for performing w/ Jimmy.....

ToplessRideFL wrote:
These are great comments. I still wonder if anyone knows about HOW they get paid for performing etc.....

By check.

Most hired musicians with a regular gig get paid a weekly salary for the time they're working (studio or on tour). Travel (to and from the start/end of tour as well as all travel between venues) and accomodations are included, as well as a certain amount of meals and a daily amount of cash for expenditures (called a Per Diem).

No one would be getting rich, but it would be an honest living.

I know guys (in other touring bands, not the CRB) who take every free meal they can and save the per diems and send that $$ home. It's just extra $$ at the end of the tour.

Other musicians who perform only particular sessions (session musicians) get paid a flat rate per day/week whatever.

ragtopW wrote:"this place of business only plays ( either BMI or Ascap) and will not
play music from (again the other one)

is there a rift???

Some of the PROs are a little more heavy handed about demanding their money (or asking too much for it), and sometimes club owners choose not to pay.

Key Lime Lee wrote: (called a Per Diem).
.

I hope it is more than the $40 a day hubby gets for food w/ his company while on the road...LOL

Key Lime Lee wrote:

ragtopW wrote:"this place of business only plays ( either BMI or Ascap) and will not
play music from (again the other one)

is there a rift???

Some of the PROs are a little more heavy handed about demanding their money (or asking too much for it), and sometimes club owners choose not to pay.

thanks, some of my co-workers were asking me as they think I have
people who can answer those questions....




Oh right I do


Thanks Again Lee.

ragtopW wrote:

key lime lee wrote: Some of the PROs are a little more heavy handed about demanding their money (or asking too much for it), and sometimes club owners choose not to pay.

thanks, some of my co-workers were asking me

I've heard a lot of stories of club owners who never knew they had to pay licensing fees for having a jukebox. Suffice it to say when someone from ASCAP or BMI shows up at their door and surprises them by telling them they need to pay, like, $600 a year to have their jukebox they don't always respond in the friendliest manner.

Key Lime Lee wrote:

ragtopW wrote:

key lime lee wrote: Some of the PROs are a little more heavy handed about demanding their money (or asking too much for it), and sometimes club owners choose not to pay.

thanks, some of my co-workers were asking me

I've heard a lot of stories of club owners who never knew they had to pay licensing fees for having a jukebox. Suffice it to say when someone from ASCAP or BMI shows up at their door and surprises them by telling them they need to pay, like, $600 a year to have their jukebox they don't always respond in the friendliest manner.

OK thanks..

RinglingRingling wrote:

land_shark3 wrote:Just for clarification before Topless gets bashed...

The question is "HOW they get paid" not "how MUCH they get paid".

I think direct deposit, and Krispy Kreme stock.

Hopefully not Krispy Kreme stock of they will all have to do 100 shows this year. Then, again maybe JB should pay them in Krispy Kreme stock... yeah, that's the ticket.

RinglingRingling wrote:

land_shark3 wrote:

RinglingRingling wrote:well, the pay doesn't always include free air-travel on Jimmy's jet..

In fact, Mac told my friend sitting next to him in coach that Jimmy never flies his own plane on tour. The plane may go, but Jimmy is not up front.

no sense in getting worked up about a missed landing/go-round when you are trying to make it to the next show.

Actually, I was thinking more about sleep.

RinglingRingling wrote:

CaptainP wrote:Not to mention that both Amy and TC post here from time to time, as does Josh Leo.

(...and those persistant rumors about Jimmy being here incognito! )

and that BSherris is really Mac, just venting about a no-show at the Talkhouse the other night..

Key Lime Lee wrote:Technically, yes, but in reality I've never run across anyone showing up asking for money and I've done over 1000 shows. Of course generally the venue would be responsible for having the blanket license.

BTW, I've been meaning to talk to you about that. You're bill is now close to $93,476.23.

RinglingRingling wrote:and that BSherris is really Mac, just venting about a no-show at the Talkhouse the other night..

Well, I can squash that one.... I saw both of them in the same place.... at the same time.....

Besides, Mac is way too much of a gentleman to post those kind of comments.....

Key Lime Lee wrote: No one would be getting rich, but it would be an honest living.
.

Really? I would think it would be an above average living..... Interesting....

I would assume working for Jimmy or any other artist would be similiar to working for any company..... With raises for performance, tenure etc... is that the way it is for band members?

Thanks for all your insight Lee.

Well as usual, Lee has the answers. THey get paid by the week, hotels and transportation included (coach ), and the per diem they get depends on the city that they stay in, but since they tend to stay in deluxe hotels where morning coffee is like $25 , the per D doesn't always go too far...

Royalties add up if you have written and/or published lots of songs, or a few hits. But if someone has co-written 2 or 3 songs with say, Jimmy Buffett, the quarterly checks are usually in the 20-30 dollar range...

I'm sure you know FAR more about it than I do Stizz... I can only speak in generalities.

ToplessRideFL wrote:I would assume working for Jimmy or any other artist would be similiar to working for any company..... With raises for performance, tenure etc... is that the way it is for band members?

Thanks for all your insight Lee.

according to the 60 minute segment the CRB members are independent contractors, not employees of buffett inc.