From time to time a music director may feel inclined to allow
a booster parent or volunteer hobbyist do the audio recording and CD production
for her group. She may believe that doing so would be financially thrifty, and
that feelings would be hurt if she refused Jimmy’s dad’s offer to
do the recording and make CDs. Please consider and be aware of several possible
problems with this situation.
Here’s what we’ve seen: CDs produced by Jimmy's
dad disappointed the parents and students who were used to better sound quality,
full color graphics, and seeing the students’ names printed on the insert.
Additionally, less CDs were ordered for subsequent recording projects because
of the disappointing results.
More importantly, Jimmy’s dad most likely does not have
a business relationship with the copyright license agencies or publishers and
will have to purchase 500 mechanical licenses for each
song on the CD, at a rate of $.09. Alternatively, he may contact the
composer, arranger, and publisher of each piece on the CD in order to negotiate
a license rate for each of these people.
The usual case is that he doesn’t obtain licenses at all
and is then making illegal CDs thereby putting the school or organization at
risk of being charged with copyright violations.(
See also MENC’s website re. copyright.)
Labeling can be troubling. Of the non-professional CD projects
we’ve seen, few have been labeled according to copyright regulations;
there is specific information about each piece that must be included with your
CDs. Also, Jimmy’s dad often uses stick-on paper labels for the CDs, which,
in time, can shrink and consequently warp the disc a bit making it unplayable.(We
know this because years ago we used paper labels. We’ve since invested
in on-disc printing machines.)
Jimmy’s dad means well. He probably loves his recording
hobby and genuinely wants to help you. He may have high quality recording and
production equipment, and he may have audio recording training and experience.
He may even know about the importance of keeping your CD project legal for you
and may know how to obtain licenses. Chances are, though, that he hasn’t
mentioned licenses or provided samples of properly packaged CDs. He will surely
do his best to get good sound and keep your costs down, but you can do better
for yourself and your students and still be financially frugal.
You can thank Jimmy’s dad then explain that your project
must be completely legal and that Soundwaves has a cost free way of making CDs
that will include all the student’s names in a full color booklet. Then
rest assured that your CD project will look and sound good and won’t get
you in trouble with a composer who finds out that you used her piece on your
CD, but didn’t pay royalties to her and her publisher. (true story)