Take FMC’s Music + Money Quiz
This week the Future of Music Coalition launched a group of quizzes to test your knowledge of music and money from copyright to compensation. The quizzes range from "Easy" to "Expert" and the answers include helpful explanations. It's all part of their mission to educate musicians about such topics as music revenue streams and new business models.
FMC's Music + Money Quiz asks:
"How much do you know about money and music, and the copyright laws, licenses and agreements that frequently determine who gets paid, and how much?"
More specifically they provide a series of multiple choice and true/false questions and answers along with links to related resources for your use. They follow each quiz with 10 additional questions "about yourself and your role in the music landscape" which will help fuel further research.
Here are two from the Easy Quiz with answers below:
Question 1
A musician writes an original song or composition. At what point is the work protected by copyright?
A. As soon as the songwriter files a copyright notice with the US Copyright Office.
B. As soon as the songwriter performs it publicly for the first time.
C. As soon as the songwriter registers the song with his or her PRO (ASCAP, BMI or SESAC).
D. As soon as it is "fixed" for the first time, whether it’s on a piece of paper, a digital recorder, or recorded simultaneously with its transmission.
Question 2
True or false: songs/compositions must be registered with the US Copyright Office before they can be released commercially.
A. True
B. False
No time for games? Then skip right to the resource recommended for both questions above, the U.S. Copyright Office's PDF download: Copyright Registration for Musical Compositions
Answers and Explanations
Question 1
Answer: D
Explanation: Under the current US copyright law, a work is automatically protected by copyright when it is created and fixed. A work is protected as soon as it is “fixed” in any tangible medium, whether it’s written on a piece of paper or recorded while you perform it.
While registering a composition with the Copyright Office has many advantages, it is not required for copyright protection under the present law.
Question 2
Answer: False
Explanation: While many songwriters choose to register their works with the US Copyright Office because it establishes a public record of a copyright claim and will permit additional damages if infringed, neither registration in the US Copyright Office nor publication is required for copyright protection under the law. Under the present copyright law, a work is automatically protected by copyright when it is created and fixed.
More: Music + Money Quiz
Hypebot Senior Contributor Clyde Smith (@fluxresearch/@crowdfundingm) also blogs at Flux Research and Crowdfunding For Musicians. To suggest topics for Hypebot, contact: clyde(at)fluxresearch(dot)com.
