Originally Posted by Ely Bass
I know I have Master rights (recording and production). I know I can register the recordings with a form SR, but I'm okay releasing these to the public domain. My concern is for the original works that are most likely not registered. In some cases my recordings might be the only remaining record of the creations.

I don't represent the original creator and don't have a right to register their works. Plus this is very expensive because each songwriter has to be registered separately.

I don't know if I'm doing the songwriters a service or a disservice by publishing these recordings. A few of the recordings and songs are very good.

I realize this is a very different problem many songwriters face on this forum, but it's probably not a unique situation.

Any ideas?

First off, the copyright form allows for multiple writers on a song/composition. So no, it's not necessary for each to file a copyright individually/separately.

The really big question here, and you alluded to it when you said you didn't have a right to register their works, is, do you legally have the right to file the form in the first place? If you are not a writer of the song in some way, shape, or form, and only have the physical recordings, that put it into another area legally since you were not a writer, you really don't have a right to register the work as your own, which is what you are claiming with the copyright form filing. This opens the door to fraud and other things that lawyers love to litigate. Any copyright infringement claim could potentially be tossed out since you claimed to be a writer and weren't. If you ARE a contributing writer, and ONLY if you are a contributing writer, you can legally file the form and include the names of each of the other writers. NOW, you have the right to file the form and release the music.

If you are really interesting in releasing the songs publicly, your bet bet is to contact the folks who actually are the writers and have a discussion with them and figure out a plan of action accordingly. It might be difficult to get up with them now but I see that as the best option..... or, you could simply release them since the possibility of the songs being an internet sensation or heard by a big superstar and picked up to become a double platinum hit are essentially less the 0%. But I'm not recommending that last way.... just that it is another, not exactly ideal, way to let a few friends hear the songs. Use a hosting service like Box and make it private and share the link to limited friends and locations.

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.