Hidden Truth Music is here to reveal the traps in the music industry so that you can succeed in being an independent artist.

YOU NEED FULL PERMISSION TO DO THIS!

• You must own the copyright for the sound recordings or have the authority or permission from the owner(s).
• If you didn't write the song/composition, that's OK, but you must find out who the copyright owners are, and pay the publisher their mechanical royalties the same way you would for CDs sold, but based on your download/sales activity.
• If you have samples in your music, they must all be legally cleared and paid-for. No “mix tapes” of other people's music, even if you are mixing in your own music.
• It's VERY important you have all rights and permission! Files distributed on the internet are watched very carefully by lawyers. You can't just “get away with it”. Do everything thoroughly and legit.
• If you have cover songs (artist performing someone else's songs) on your CD, please read the “songs FAQ” and “cover songs” sections, first

The current (2006) statutory rate for royalties is 9.1¢ for every copy sold if the playing time for the song is under five minutes.

If the playing time for the song is longer than five minutes, the rate is 1.75¢ per minute, rounding up to the next minute.

• under 5 minutes = 9.1¢ per copy
• 5 to 5:59 minutes = 10.5¢ per copy (6 minutes x 1.75¢)
• 6 to 6:59 minutes = 12.25¢ per copy (7 minutes x 1.75¢)
• 7 to 7:59 minutes = 14¢ per copy (8 minutes x 1.75¢)
• etc.

The Copyright Office can always keeps the most up to date information concerning statutory royalty rates at this link: https://www.copyright.gov/carp/m200a.html