Songwriters: another avenue for revenue

Monday, November 14, 2011

BEING an artist through time has been stereotyped as the kind of career that just accumulates enough cash to get by through living. Having that in mind, the potential for art ending up as one of the most underappreciated “professions” in the world could ring very true.

Well, although this story doesn’t ultimately change that, it does tell of good news for local songwriters here in Cebu instead.

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Filscap (Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Inc.) expressed that it will commence its licensing operations in Metro Cebu in January.

This is a welcomed move from the non-stock, non-profit association of composers, lyricists and music publishers that was since established in the country since 1965.

Now, the body can collectively manage and license the “public performance right” or the right to authorize the playing of copyrighted songs to the public here in Cebu.

In a recent forum held at the Cebu City Marriott Hotel, Filscap president Noel Cabangon said that coming to Cebu was meant to encourage Cebuano songwriters and composers to join the organization and also stir awareness within the songwriting community.

Local songwriters can now reap the benefits from collected royalties by applying to be a member of Filscap. The group currently has over 1,000 members.

“Since it is very difficult and expensive for copyright owners to monitor and license every public performance of their works worldwide, Filscap, which operates as a collective management organization, was formed to facilitate licensing and even standardize the cost of the license. With this creation, music users no longer need to deal with several copyright owners,” the organization said.

Their authority to license and collect license fees for the public performance of copyrighted works has already been recognized by the Supreme Court, Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, business organizations and major companies that use music in their establishment.

Besides in such manners already mentioned, the organization also collects royalties for both local and foreign songs played in the country and distributes these to members here and abroad through international affiliate societies.

Filscap is a member of the Paris-based International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers, the umbrella organization of all composer societies around the world.

Now songwriters have the advantage of optimizing any means of a financial return. Of course, assuming the amount is not too near a fraction of a career windfall, but getting a songwriter’s fair share and what is due to him or her is definitely a good step in the right direction.