Chicago songwriter signs up to reclaim music!
North Shore musician Jim Peterik is among thousands of songwriters nationwide who stand to earn big paydays on songs they sold off decades ago.
The U.S. Copyright Law of 1976 (it took effect in 1978) allows artists to take back ownership of songs 35 years after selling the rights to publishers. Songs given up in 1978 can be reclaimed by their owners in 2013; the paperwork to reclaim them has to be done two years in advance.
“It means money for me, for my heirs and for my family. It boils down to dollars and cents, but more emotionally, you feel you have part of your child back,” says Mr. Peterik, whose “Eye of the Tiger” became synonymous with Sylvester Stallone’s “Rocky III” in 1982.
Songs that predate the law can be reclaimed 56 years after they were written, so many artists from the 1940s and ’50s are stepping up to reclaim their work, too.
Brent McBride’s Nashville-based Copyright Recapture LLC is helping songwriters with the lengthy application process. He says hundreds of songwriters don’t even know about the law.
“Songwriters in major markets like New York, Nashville and Los Angeles haven’t heard about it. And there are even fewer people who know in smaller markets like Chicago,” he told me.
So far, only a handful of musicians in Chicago, including Mr. Peterik and the widow of bluesman Little Junior Parker, have come forward.
“With the brilliant music scene of Chicago, I think there are many more who could take advantage of (the law),” he said, “especially in the field of the blues.”
Mr. Paterik said he’s been trying to spread the word to fellow artists.
“We made these deals a long time ago when we didn’t have a penny in our pockets. We regretted it later, and this is a chance to reclaim that,” he said. “It’s a good feeling.”
Brent McBride’s Nashville-based Copyright Recapture LLC is helping songwriters with the lengthy application process. He says hundreds of songwriters don’t even know about the law.
“Songwriters in major markets like New York, Nashville and Los Angeles haven’t heard about it. And there are even fewer people who know in smaller markets like Chicago,” he told me.
So far, only a handful of musicians in Chicago, including Mr. Peterik and the widow of bluesman Little Junior Parker, have come forward.
“With the brilliant music scene of Chicago, I think there are many more who could take advantage of (the law),” he said, “especially in the field of the blues.”
Mr. Paterik said he’s been trying to spread the word to fellow artists.
“We made these deals a long time ago when we didn’t have a penny in our pockets. We regretted it later, and this is a chance to reclaim that,” he said. “It’s a good feeling.”
