Members diablosrising Posted July 9, 2009 Members Posted July 9, 2009 I have a song that I want to put up online using tunecore, and I've decided that I want to give all of my earnings from it to charity, specifically Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago. I don't really know what steps to take. Should I contact the hospital to let them know I'm using their name to invoke downloads of my song? Will they have something for others to see to verify that I am giving them my earnings from it? Do I have to file some government paper work or anything? I'm just really in the dark about the whole thing, so if anyone has done it before, please chime in and help me out!!! Thanks!
Members diablosrising Posted July 11, 2009 Author Members Posted July 11, 2009 Wow. Not one reply. Bump?
Members richardmac Posted July 11, 2009 Members Posted July 11, 2009 Maybe no one knows the answer. I don't.
Members fast1 Posted July 11, 2009 Members Posted July 11, 2009 try contacting the hospital, i am sure they came across stuff like this before, and they can advise you accordingly
Members search now Posted July 14, 2009 Members Posted July 14, 2009 I have a song that I want to put up online using tunecore, and I've decided that I want to give all of my earnings from it to charity, specifically Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago. I don't really know what steps to take. Should I contact the hospital to let them know I'm using their name to invoke downloads of my song? Will they have something for others to see to verify that I am giving them my earnings from it? Do I have to file some government paper work or anything? I'm just really in the dark about the whole thing, so if anyone has done it before, please chime in and help me out!!! Thanks! give us a link to the song so we can help you
Members bdemon Posted July 14, 2009 Members Posted July 14, 2009 I'll offer an answer, but you might not like it. Unless you're a decent brand name who can pull in lots of sales, the charity could care less about you and probably doesn't have the time to deal with you. I've tried to produce benefit shows with past bands and threw my weight behind this really cool non-profit with my first CD, among other stuff. As far as putting on shows, they're not going to let you use their name unless someone in their camp is involved, as they can't risk having their name attached to something objectionable, beyond their control, etc. I contacted the above non-profit, told them I was donating a chunk of my CD to them, asked for literature to give out, as I was selling my tunes at street fairs. Got a big email of thanks, an even bigger bag of brochures in the mail, did my thing. Later I sent a CD to the PR woman I was in contact with and asked for more brochures. Got a letter asking me to remove all reference to their non-profit from their CD and not use their name in any of my promotions. When I talked to the PR rep she said it wasn't because of the music (which was mostly mock orchestral/film score stuff and a few pop songs), though she couldn't tell me why I was being cut off. So I made my one donation based off my CD sales and split...more than a little disgruntled. IMO, non-profits will always be happy to take your money, but it has to be on a no-strings-attached basis. They'd love to use you to promote them if you're a celebrity, but they won't be interested in an unknown using THEM for self-promotion. All that said, give them a call...who knows.
Members diablosrising Posted July 15, 2009 Author Members Posted July 15, 2009 That was just the post I was looking for! Yeah, I'm not looking for recognition out of it, but I am concerned with the very thing you brought up -- the charity requesting me not to use their name. I am really just looking to do a good thing in this case. My problem is if I just say "I'm donating all of my proceeds to charity" no one really has any way to verify it. I could not mention charity at all and just do it on the down low, but I know I could raise more money if people knew what it was going towards. Anyway, thanks for all of the replies and I'll keep everyone updated.
Members Blackwatch Posted July 16, 2009 Members Posted July 16, 2009 IMO, non-profits will always be happy to take your money, but it has to be on a no-strings-attached basis. They'd love to use you to promote them if you're a celebrity, but they won't be interested in an unknown using THEM for self-promotion. Right on the money....I can only imagine the "offers" they must get.....
Members Gigmaster Posted July 20, 2009 Members Posted July 20, 2009 Their lawyers probaly told them to do it, to avoid any liablilty should you get sued by BMI, or ASCAP, Harry Fox, etc... ASCAP sues hospitals on a regular basis for not being licensed. It's kind of a standard business thing. If it's a public place, then you are free to use their name in the song. But you cannot use their name for promotion for anything other than references, without their permission. That puts them in the position of an Advertising Agency, which is heavily regulated. Their are just trying to cover their butts, and I can't blame them. It probably has nothing at all to do with you. For diablosrising: I would at least copyright the song, and register it with BMI, ASCAP or Harry Fox. If you are going to donate proceeds, you need proceeds collected. Good Luck to you. I'll offer an answer, but you might not like it. Unless you're a decent brand name who can pull in lots of sales, the charity could care less about you and probably doesn't have the time to deal with you. I've tried to produce benefit shows with past bands and threw my weight behind this really cool non-profit with my first CD, among other stuff. As far as putting on shows, they're not going to let you use their name unless someone in their camp is involved, as they can't risk having their name attached to something objectionable, beyond their control, etc. I contacted the above non-profit, told them I was donating a chunk of my CD to them, asked for literature to give out, as I was selling my tunes at street fairs. Got a big email of thanks, an even bigger bag of brochures in the mail, did my thing. Later I sent a CD to the PR woman I was in contact with and asked for more brochures. Got a letter asking me to remove all reference to their non-profit from their CD and not use their name in any of my promotions. When I talked to the PR rep she said it wasn't because of the music (which was mostly mock orchestral/film score stuff and a few pop songs), though she couldn't tell me why I was being cut off. So I made my one donation based off my CD sales and split...more than a little disgruntled. IMO, non-profits will always be happy to take your money, but it has to be on a no-strings-attached basis. They'd love to use you to promote them if you're a celebrity, but they won't be interested in an unknown using THEM for self-promotion. All that said, give them a call...who knows.
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