[Dixielandjazz] Response to Copyright fees to Arrangers (?)

[AL LEVY]

Hi Larry,
You wrote {snipped}
How do you pay copyright fees to arrangers?
If you recorded a copyrighted - PUBLISHED - arrangement then you pay the Harry Fox Agency.
Money goes to the composer - possibly some to the arranger but I doubt it.
Most arrangements are not copyrightable. Some exceptions.
Stephen Foster wrote "Old Folks At Home"
Sy Oliver copyrighted "Swanee River".(Published by Duchess Music) T.D.
as a work on a work.

All the arrangers I knew were paid "by the job", no royalties etc.

Who do I contact? 
I was on the copyright committee of A.S.M.A., the American Society of Music Arrangers.
We argued before congress that an arranger should be considered a co-composer.
Rots o ruck!

Can I go directly to the arranger if he is known?
That would be a very nice gesture. Why not?

What happens if the arranger isn't a member?
Try the A.F.OF M. to get the local and then the phone number for any member.
What is a reasonable fee for a tune?

Hope this helps,
Al
Pianist, Composer, Arranger, Conductor, Teacher and Music Prep.
Please visit me at
http://alevy.com