Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
#708527 03/11/22 10:45 PM
Off-Topic
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 12
Newbie
OP Offline
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 12
PGM will you please clarify the following FAQ:

23. Are songs that I create with Band-in-a-Box or RealBand copyrighted?

PGM FAQ ANSWER
The arrangements made by Band-in-a-Box and RealBand are yours, and your songs may be used freely as long as they don't infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others.

== PLEASE CLARIFY ==

1. What does PGM include in the definition of "arrangements"?

2. Does this include the rendered sound recordings produced using BIAB of said arrangement?

3. Are rendered sound recordings produced using BIAB considered "3rd Party" of said arrangement in terms of PGM and/or artist copyright?

4. Are users of BIAB "required" to give attribution to the BIAB / RealBand / RealTrack / RealDrums artists -- including royalty points /split percentages? Or are these performances treated as pre-paid session players?

5. Are users of BIAB "prohibited" from giving attribution to the BIAB / RealBand / RealTrack / RealDrums artists? (Implies uunauthorized association of artist to new works which may or may not impact the brand image of said artist.)

6. Are users of BIAB "prohibited" from submitting any artifact produced using BIAB to PROs, CMOs, The MLC, Publishers, Copyright Registery agency, or any other related agencies where material submissions are required?

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE for responding to this topic and for helping to provide more clarity on these matters.


Last edited by Derek Abrams; 03/11/22 11:05 PM.
Off-Topic
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 266
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 266
Remember that this is the BIAB User Forum and any replies you get here from members will more than likely be based on their opinions and/or geographical location.
For absolute clarity you should address your question to PGMusic directly.

Vintage

Off-Topic
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 20,345
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 20,345
I support Vintage Gibson's comments. Like you, we are just end users. This is a PG Music "User Forum".

Only PGM qualified staff can correctly answer your questions. There is a support page that might be a great starting point. I admire your ambitions, but this is not our product. Only PG Music can more accurately answer your concerns.


BIAB & RB2025 Win.(Audiophile), Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors, AKG K271 Studio H'phones
Off-Topic
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 621
B
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
B
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 621
Originally Posted By: Derek Abrams
PGM will you please clarify the following FAQ:

23. Are songs that I create with Band-in-a-Box or RealBand copyrighted?

PGM FAQ ANSWER
The arrangements made by Band-in-a-Box and RealBand are yours, and your songs may be used freely as long as they don't infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others.

== PLEASE CLARIFY ==





You are way overthinking this.

I am not a Copyright attorney but I do have a reasonably good layman's understanding of US Copyright law, having made a concerted effort to study the opinion of those who are.

If you create an original song using BIAB, you own the copyright to it.

If you do a cover version, you own the rights to your recording of it but not the rights to the song itself so you are responsible for securing the appropriate licenses.

If you arrange, say, "Stairway to Heaven" for euphonium, kazoo and jaw harp, you own the copyright to your arrangement but you still owe royalties to Jimmy Page et. al. Because he owns the song itself.

The performances for Real Tracks, etc are "work for hire."


Byron Dickens

BIAB. CbB. Mixbus 32C 8 HP Envy. Intel core i7. 16GB RAM W10. Focusrite Scarlett 18i 20. Various instruments played with varying degrees of proficiency.

https://soundcloud.com/athanorsoundlabs
Off-Topic
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,182
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,182
Regarding #4 & #5
PG has said multiple times that they ask that you do NOT mention RT artists in credits.
Neither PG nor the artists want that to occur, but I don't recall the word 'prohibit' being mentioned.
Do the right thing and honor the request, it's the easiest safest route.

If you think artist 'X' being in the credits is what is going to make people like your song, well ..


I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
rharv #708626 03/12/22 12:37 PM
Off-Topic
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 12
Newbie
OP Offline
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 12
rharv

Thank you for clarifying -- I did scan the forums for copyright and credit (not attribution) and only found the copyright reference to FAQ #23 so I was trying to better understand this matter brought up by another user in regard to filling out the form on the US Copyright Office form.

To be clear "my intent" is simply to ensure that I am honoring the talents of others and especially if required to do so, and not for any self promotion or to add any added value to my own creations.


Thank you.

Last edited by Derek Abrams; 03/12/22 12:50 PM.
Off-Topic
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 12
Newbie
OP Offline
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 12
Excellent Byron and thank you for the clarification.

Off-Topic
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 12
Newbie
OP Offline
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 12
VintageGibson and AudioTrack -- thank you for that insight.
I was a bit confused since PGM staff monitor and reply to these posts I was thinking this was part of their support process as well.


I just emailed PGM my questions so I appreciate everyone's added contribution to my pursuit of gaining a better understanding of what is preferred.


Thanks all.

Last edited by Derek Abrams; 03/12/22 12:53 PM.
Off-Topic
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,416
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,416
Quote:
1. What does PGM include in the definition of "arrangements"?

2. Does this include the rendered sound recordings produced using BIAB of said arrangement?

3. Are rendered sound recordings produced using BIAB considered "3rd Party" of said arrangement in terms of PGM and/or artist copyright?

4. Are users of BIAB "required" to give attribution to the BIAB / RealBand / RealTrack / RealDrums artists -- including royalty points /split percentages? Or are these performances treated as pre-paid session players?

5. Are users of BIAB "prohibited" from giving attribution to the BIAB / RealBand / RealTrack / RealDrums artists? (Implies uunauthorized association of artist to new works which may or may not impact the brand image of said artist.)

6. Are users of BIAB "prohibited" from submitting any artifact produced using BIAB to PROs, CMOs, The MLC, Publishers, Copyright Registery agency, or any other related agencies where material submissions are required?



Since some of these questions overlap....I'll just say this

The "arrangement" is the song you write, or the music you compose. It encompasses everything about the song regardless of the length.

Essentially, if it is an original composition, arrangement, or song that you wrote, you own the rights to that song. PG Music doesn't claim any copyright for your song, the instruments, the tracks, the performances of the PG musicians or anything related to that song. If you have legally purchased the software license, you have full ownership over everything you create with it as long as it is an original composition and does not infringe on any preexisting copyright.

You do not need to give credit to PG or the musicians on the tracks for your song. If fact, if you do that, and then try to place the song in a music library or with a publisher, you may encounter issues of ownership because you credit another musician. You would now be required to get THAT musician's signature on a release. BUT... since there is actually no copyright claim by that musician, it's better to simply not give credit that you are not legally required to give in the first place. Music libraries and publishers are really strict about releases, so it's best to not give credit. All they want to know is that you own 100% of the rights to the song and the fact is, you do.

Since you own the song and all it rights, you are free to copyright the song in your name or assign it to a publisher or library and to use it any way you want. Myself and several others here have songs in commercial use that were created using BB/RB tracks. Mine have been in TV shows and films. Many of my works are in the libraries and publisher's hands and are also registered with my PRO.

So... write your music, copyright it if that's what you want to do, send it to a publisher or library, and wait for the royalty checks to arrive with your name on the "Pay to the order of" line.


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.
You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.

The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
Off-Topic
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 12
Newbie
OP Offline
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 12
This was by far the most helpful response. Thank you greatly for taking the time to clarify this matter for me.


I did also email PGM directly and the respose was:

Hello,

The arrangements made by Band-in-a-Box, RealBand, and PowerTracks are yours, and your songs may be used freely as long as they don't infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others, such as with cover songs. https://www.pgmusic.com/salesfaq5.htm#23

The following add-ons are under PG Music Inc. copyright:

Band-in-a-Box demo songs
Performance Series songs
MIDI Fakebooks (except the Sound Tracks MIDI Fakebooks)
PowerTracks MultiTracks

Thank you,
Chantelle
PG Music Inc.
Important Reminder: Please include all previous correspondence when replying to this message.


###

Off-Topic
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,456
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,456
We have 26 songs licensed by world wide companies. All contain RTs and RDs. They are our compositions or our arrangements of public domain songs — meaning we own all rights to them. We have never encountered nor do we anticipate any issues with ownership.

Just use BiaB as though the tracks are your hired session players.

And have fun!

Bud

PS On our uploads to Soundcloud, YouTube, etc., we typically thank PG Music. For us they made it all possible.


Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more.
If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks!
Our Videos are here on our website.
Off-Topic
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 12
Newbie
OP Offline
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 12
Thank you. Congrats on your catalog and success. Your suggestion of session players is exactly how I was hoping I could think about this.

Much appreciated.

Off-Topic
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 488
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 488
Just a suggestion of what I've been lately doing. Lately, I have been taking public domain songs and doing some creative writing not using the same words and using my own words but summarizing them and using the power of creative writing so that I could create some new songs that were not covered. I have created covers in the past, but I am now creating my own original versions of songs by doing creative writing which I went to college for and for instance, it is very good when you can summarize what other people have put down on paper and make it your own. So if you use the ability to recreate something else then that gives you the chance to never have writer's block. All you have to do is summarize what you see in other songs. Like I said, I have created covers in the past but I am getting away from that and now doing all of my original material. So if that helps anybody than great, hopefully this is a good comment but some people will read so that they can creatively write their own stuff. I took the liberty of taking the course of Joanne Cooper for just $10.00 that is where I learned to do this. I didn't know at first that you could use public domain songs like this until I took her course. Then I just turned on my creative writing skills that I learned in college. But I would appreciate any suggestions on how to get my songs placed. I have about 60 originals now.

Last edited by trapper456; 03/20/22 09:40 AM.

Music is an expression that is a universal language, Never criticize anybody to harshly. They need time to grow but when they do, they do. Always be kind in what you say and do because the man upstairs is watching.
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.

ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.

PG Music News
Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!

It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!

We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!

Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:

Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana, Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes, MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano, Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7, Playable RealTracks Set 4, RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark, and more!

Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!

New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2025!

We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!

Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!

Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.

Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles

Check out all the 202 New RealTracks (in sets 456-467)

And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.

You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.

Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!

The 2025 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2025 49-PAK!

Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Mac!

With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!

These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!

This Free Bonus PAK includes:

  • The 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK: -For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles. -For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles. -For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
  • Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
  • Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
  • MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
  • Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
  • Playable RealTracks Set 4
  • RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
  • SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
  • 128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.

Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:

  • 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
  • FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
  • Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
  • Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
  • MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
  • Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
  • RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe

Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®!

New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!

Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!

We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!

In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!

All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.

Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.

New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!

We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!

We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!

If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!

Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.

Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.

New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!

Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!

We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!

In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!

All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.

Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.

New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Windows!

We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!

We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!

If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!

Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.

Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.

Forum Statistics
Forums58
Topics84,468
Posts779,544
Members39,670
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
Newest Members
Bazzac, kirkebyen12, Bassace, Leo.andrade.guitar, Nelsong2025
39,669 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 127
WaoBand 98
DC Ron 89
rsdean 72
dcuny 70
DrDan 63
Today's Birthdays
There are no members with birthdays on this day.
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5