PAUL SET TO REGAIN RIGHTS TO BEATLES CATALOG....???
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Anyone know anything about Paul regaining the rights to the Beatles catalog that MJ got control of back in the 80s? I read something about it on Facebook....some entry with no specific information on the when, the how, etc.
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I think that might be something to do with the 1976 US copyright act which says that songs written prior to 1978 become the property of the songwriter after 56 years. This would mean that Paul could start partially re-owning his songs written in his early Beatles days as soon as four years time. But different countries have differing acts so maybe he has less / longer time to wait than this depending on the country involved?
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Better late than never. Good to know at least one of those deals Brian Epstein made will finally come to an end.
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Kestrel:
I think that might be something to do with the 1976 US copyright act which says that songs written prior to 1978 become the property of the songwriter after 56 years. This would mean that Paul could start partially re-owning his songs written in his early Beatles days as soon as four years time. But different countries have differing acts so maybe he has less / longer time to wait than this depending on the country involved?
Thanks. Makes perfect sense. Now, I would ask about those Paul-working-with-Kanye rumors, but I want the whole thing to just go away, so I won't!!!
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Glad he is still around to see the day when he can own them.
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Beatles4Ever&Ever:
Anyone know anything about Paul regaining the rights to the Beatles catalog that MJ got control of back in the 80s? I read something about it on Facebook....some entry with no specific information on the when, the how, etc.
:Well, Paul, Ringo and the estates of John and George own the Beatles masters through Calderstones Productions Limited (a division of Universal Music). And in 2018, to begin the first of 9 years plus, the Len-Mac 1962 copyrights are legally reverted to MPL and Lennon. Then in 2019, the 1963 copyrights, then 2020 the 1964 copyrights, onward and onward till 2026. Paul already owns with Yoko, LOVE ME DO, PS I LOVE YOU, and FANCY MY CHANCES. And Paul owns TWIST AND SHOUT to name a few that the Beatles recorded, for which Paul owns. Including the early Harrison and Starkey copyrights. Then it's goodbye Michael Jackson! For the exception of Paul. He recorded three songs with Jackson in the early 1980s. Legally, he's stuck with Jacko.
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So the Jackson estate even refuses to sell the rights back to Paul? A damn shame....The Beatles' music is timeless most of Jacko's stuff is just a bunch of crap in retrospect. Glad to hear the copyrights are slipping out of these peoples' greedy fingers!!
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Erik in NJ:
So the Jackson estate even refuses to sell the rights back to Paul? A damn shame....The Beatles' music is timeless most of Jacko's stuff is just a bunch of crap in retrospect. Glad to hear the copyrights are slipping out of these peoples' greedy fingers!!
I thought at one point Paul tried to buy them back, but they wanted some astronomical sum, so he said forget it. (or probably the other "f word")
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Nancy R:
Erik in NJ:
So the Jackson estate even refuses to sell the rights back to Paul? A damn shame....The Beatles' music is timeless most of Jacko's stuff is just a bunch of crap in retrospect. Glad to hear the copyrights are slipping out of these peoples' greedy fingers!!
I thought at one point Paul tried to buy them back, but they wanted some astronomical sum, so he said forget it. (or probably the other "f word")
One story was that Lord Lew Grade was going to sell the entire ATV Music Corp (Northern Songs' parent company) to Paul McCartney for $40 million, but McCartney just wanted Northern Songs (priced supposedly at $20 million). Paul declined. Later when Robert Holmes'a Court was selling ATV Music, McCartney and Yoko Ono declined. Too pricey. Why should Paul and Yoko pay for songs Len-Mac wrote for nothing. Well come 2018, the Len-Mac songs are reverted to Mac & Ono for free!
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I'm not sure how a Lennon-McCartney song became a Northern Song or part of some other catalog that Jacko bought. Not even sure why the Beatles signed over their songs to begin with--maybe it was standard practice in those days if you wanted a recording contract. I'm not sure when it all changed but perhaps someone can clarify. For example, what songs are owned by Apple, Capitol, EMI, etc. It's a big mess isn't it?
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Erik in NJ:
I'm not sure how a Lennon-McCartney song became a Northern Song or part of some other catalog that Jacko bought. Not even sure why the Beatles signed over their songs to begin with--maybe it was standard practice in those days if you wanted a recording contract. I'm not sure when it all changed but perhaps someone can clarify. For example, what songs are owned by Apple, Capitol, EMI, etc. It's a big mess isn't it?
I'll try to explain. Anybody, JUMP IN ON THIS! Northern Songs Limited was formed by D-ck James of D-ck James Music Ltd. Originally, Len-Mac Enterprises was formed by Lennon & McCartney and I'm assuming The Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein. Northern Songs was on the London Stock exchange in the 1960s. Not anymore, today. D-ck James and Charles Silver are to received 50% of Northern Songs and the other 50% goes to Lennon & McCartney. Well out of that 50% is 20% to Brian Epstein (manager's fee). To this day, Len/Mac receives over 33% writing royalties in North America, alone. In other countries, it's over 50 to 55%. McCartney who composed, completely, "YESTERDAY," makes 14% off the song, before taxes. Instead of 25% with Lennon getting the other 25%. Prior to Northern Songs getting started in late 1963, Adrmore & Beechwood owned the Len/Mac songs along with other music pub. cos---today owned by Universal Music. McCartney's MPL Music owns LOVE ME DO, PS I LOVE YOU on behalf of Beechwood with Lenono, and FANCY MY CHANCES (from Let It Be ... Naked) is owned by MPL/Lenono. Michael Jackson owns the bulk of Northern Songs (thru ATV) and today is partnered with Sony Songs. Universal Music and Lenono owns the early Len/Mac songs in North America because of a copyright law that indicates all heirs deceased songwriters will owned 25% of the publishing rights. Michael Jackson owns those early songs for the rest of the world---including the George Harrison songs and Ringo Starr songs, pre 1968. In 1968, Harrison formed his Harrisongs (though he formed a company, earlier before Harrisongs) and Ringo formed his Startling Music. Apple Corps formed Apple Records and Apple Music Publishing. Apple Music Publishing does not own any Len/Mac songs. Just songs that were written by recording artists who signed to Apple Records like Badfinger (An Apple Band) for example. Badfinger is Pete Ham, Mike Gibbons, Tom Evans and Joey Molland. But recently with new copyright laws in the USA, Apple Music lost the rights to the Tom Evans/Pete Ham song publishings like "Baby Blue" and "Without You", Harry Nilsson had this big massive hit with his version. The Estates of Ham and Evans own the rights and are license to outside music publishings to handle the payments. Apple Music owns the rights for the rest of the world. Not in the USA. Capitol Records has no holdings on the music publishing. EMI (Capitol's parent co.) use to have holdings on the early Len/Mac. They owned Admore & Beechwood. Today it's known as Beechwood Music Corp. Here's a little tib-bit. Songwriter Jerry Herman ("Hello Dolly") co-founded Capitol Records (before sold to EMI). McCartney who was contracted with Capitol Records (with The Beatles and solo career) owns Jerry Herman's publishing.
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Wow, thanks! What a tangled web we weave! So why would they sign over 50% of the rights to those songs to D i c k James? I thought Epstein was more clever than that! And what is Maclen music? When did they stop publishing their songs under Northern Songs? And why?
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Erik in NJ:
Wow, thanks! What a tangled web we weave! So why would they sign over 50% of the rights to those songs to D i c k James? I thought Epstein was more clever than that! And what is Maclen music? When did they stop publishing their songs under Northern Songs? And why?
Maclen Music was the USA division of Northern Songs because there was a Northern Songs company established in the USA, earlier. So they came up with Maclen Music. When ATV was merged with Sony in 1994 (I think) , Maclen and Northern Songs were dissolved in 1995. Today, on ASCAP's website, most of the Len/Mac songs are listed as Northern Songs Ltd. c/o Sony/ATV Music. Northern Songs stop publishing when The Beatles disbanded. But Len/Mac were stuck with the Northern songs contract despite forming their own publishing companies. They managed to get out of their contract before 1980. Northern Songs (Sony/ATV) owns over 220 songs by Len/Mac (1963 to 1971), and Harrison and Starkey (1963 to 196
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I believe the song publishing agreement with D James Music, from that era, was a standard arrangement (not due to bad business guidance from Brian Epstein). There's information about all this in Mark Lewisohn's book, Tune In, which provides a lot of insight into the music business in the early 1960s and will provide you with a better understanding of how the deal came about.
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Erik in NJ:
I'm not sure how a Lennon-McCartney song became a Northern Song or part of some other catalog that Jacko bought. Not even sure why the Beatles signed over their songs to begin with--maybe it was standard practice in those days if you wanted a recording contract. I'm not sure when it all changed but perhaps someone can clarify. For example, what songs are owned by Apple, Capitol, EMI, etc. It's a big mess isn't it?
You need to read the unabridged book Tune In by Mark Lewisohn. He explains all the D ick James/Northern songs business. Jimmix is partly right. D ick James and his silent partner got 50% of Northern songs. John got 20%, Paul got 20% and Brian got 10%. That was the dumb part. John & Paul should have had the majority %. Yes, as Sophie said, songwriters back then commonly had such contracts with music publishers. It's complicated. Read the book.
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Why didnt D-ck James give John & Paul the opportunity to buy his share of Northern Songs when he wanted to sell? It would seem this would be professional courtesy. Macca wouldnt be in this predicament as a result.
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Nancy R:
Erik in NJ:
I'm not sure how a Lennon-McCartney song became a Northern Song or part of some other catalog that Jacko bought. Not even sure why the Beatles signed over their songs to begin with--maybe it was standard practice in those days if you wanted a recording contract. I'm not sure when it all changed but perhaps someone can clarify. For example, what songs are owned by Apple, Capitol, EMI, etc. It's a big mess isn't it?
You need to read the unabridged book Tune In by Mark Lewisohn. He explains all the D ick James/Northern songs business. Jimmix is partly right. D ick James and his silent partner got 50% of Northern songs. John got 20%, Paul got 20% and Brian got 10%. That was the dumb part. John & Paul should have had the majority %. Yes, as Sophie said, songwriters back then commonly had such contracts with music publishers. It's complicated. Read the book.
That was the dumb part. John & Paul should have had the majority %. It reported that "music publishing" was only printing music and not owning them. Too bad they didn't ask Dave Clark (of the Dave Clark 5) about that. According to Bill Harry, The Beatles made less than $100 million dollars after 1964. Brian Epstein was making 20%, here, there and everywhere, behind the Beatles and other clients. "Northern songs. John got 20%, Paul got 20% and Brian got 10%. " Managers make 15%. Songwriters make an even percentage of the writing. In the case of Len/Mac, Paul made 25% and John made 25%. Brian made 20% Remember, Paul McCartney stated in "The Beatles Anthology" print that he was making 14% off of "Yesterday."
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JoeySmith:
Why didnt D-ck James give John & Paul the opportunity to buy his share of Northern Songs when he wanted to sell? It would seem this would be professional courtesy. Macca wouldnt be in this predicament as a result.
Len/Mac bought up shares of Northern Songs in order to own the company. But the parent company, being James, took the offer of Sir Lew Grade. McCartney mentioned in an audio interview that Allen Klein was going to help The Beatles buy Northern Songs. Thank God, Klein didn't or he would have owned it with the Jaggar/Richards songs and the Rolling Stones masters of the 1960s. Another story was that Lennon was angry that Paul bought more shares of Northern Songs without telling John. D-ck James sold his company to Polygram Music. Phillips, parent company of Polygram sold their music division to Universal Music. Universal and Lenono own one a few Len/Mac songs including "Please, Please Me" that was owned by James.
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jimmix:
Nancy R:
Erik in NJ:
I'm not sure how a Lennon-McCartney song became a Northern Song or part of some other catalog that Jacko bought. Not even sure why the Beatles signed over their songs to begin with--maybe it was standard practice in those days if you wanted a recording contract. I'm not sure when it all changed but perhaps someone can clarify. For example, what songs are owned by Apple, Capitol, EMI, etc. It's a big mess isn't it?
You need to read the unabridged book Tune In by Mark Lewisohn. He explains all the D ick James/Northern songs business. Jimmix is partly right. D ick James and his silent partner got 50% of Northern songs. John got 20%, Paul got 20% and Brian got 10%. That was the dumb part. John & Paul should have had the majority %. Yes, as Sophie said, songwriters back then commonly had such contracts with music publishers. It's complicated. Read the book.
That was the dumb part. John & Paul should have had the majority %. It reported that "music publishing" was only printing music and not owning them. Too bad they didn't ask Dave Clark (of the Dave Clark 5) about that. According to Bill Harry, The Beatles made less than $100 million dollars after 1964. Brian Epstein was making 20%, here, there and everywhere, behind the Beatles and other clients. "Northern songs. John got 20%, Paul got 20% and Brian got 10%. " Managers make 15%. Songwriters make an even percentage of the writing. In the case of Len/Mac, Paul made 25% and John made 25%. Brian made 20% Remember, Paul McCartney stated in "The Beatles Anthology" print that he was making 14% off of "Yesterday."
I was quoting Mark Lewisohn in Tune In. Brian could not have made 20% because James got 50%! The numbers don't add up. (I was just talking about Northern Songs, not Maclen Music.)
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Nancy R:
jimmix:
Nancy R:
Erik in NJ:
I'm not sure how a Lennon-McCartney song became a Northern Song or part of some other catalog that Jacko bought. Not even sure why the Beatles signed over their songs to begin with--maybe it was standard practice in those days if you wanted a recording contract. I'm not sure when it all changed but perhaps someone can clarify. For example, what songs are owned by Apple, Capitol, EMI, etc. It's a big mess isn't it?
You need to read the unabridged book Tune In by Mark Lewisohn. He explains all the D ick James/Northern songs business. Jimmix is partly right. D ick James and his silent partner got 50% of Northern songs. John got 20%, Paul got 20% and Brian got 10%. That was the dumb part. John & Paul should have had the majority %. Yes, as Sophie said, songwriters back then commonly had such contracts with music publishers. It's complicated. Read the book.
That was the dumb part. John & Paul should have had the majority %. It reported that "music publishing" was only printing music and not owning them. Too bad they didn't ask Dave Clark (of the Dave Clark 5) about that. According to Bill Harry, The Beatles made less than $100 million dollars after 1964. Brian Epstein was making 20%, here, there and everywhere, behind the Beatles and other clients. "Northern songs. John got 20%, Paul got 20% and Brian got 10%. " Managers make 15%. Songwriters make an even percentage of the writing. In the case of Len/Mac, Paul made 25% and John made 25%. Brian made 20% Remember, Paul McCartney stated in "The Beatles Anthology" print that he was making 14% off of "Yesterday."
I was quoting Mark Lewisohn in Tune In. Brian could not have made 20% because James got 50%! The numbers don't add up. (I was just talking about Northern Songs, not Maclen Music.)
"I was quoting Mark Lewisohn in Tune In. Brian could not have made 20% because James got 50%! The numbers don't add up." 50% shared between Charles Silver (Chairman of the Board) and D-ck James (Founder & President). The other 50%: 20% for Epstein, leaving 30% for Len/Mac to share. I forgot to mention that after the company was sold twice and one hostile take over, Len/Mac received raises. (I was just talking about Northern Songs, not Maclen Music.) I was talking about Norther Songs and Maclen Music. Can you imagine the taxes Len/Mac had to pay. Also I hear about this. If a song goes 3 minutes long, the composer is paid twice the writing royalties. Maybe?
