Sing a Song of Penury

Pop Eye (Sept. 27) asks why Randy Travis’ greatest hits were released simultaneously on two separate albums although they could easily have fit onto one CD or cassette. Travis’ record company responds by claiming that the cost of publishing royalties made them do it, that “doubling the number of songs . . . would create a doubling of the price.”

Not true. Publishing royalties currently cost record companies a government-mandated maximum of 6 1/4 cents per normal-length song (among the world’s lowest, usually split equally between writer and publisher). The total publishing royalty cost to a record company of adding 11 songs is 68 3/4 cents. Even given markups of as much as 100% (i.e., $1.37) by distributors and dealers, this is hardly sufficient cause for doubling the retail prices of $9.98 and $15.98 for, respectively, a cassette and CD.

Writers and publishers are the only creative contributors to a recording who earn nothing until or unless a record sells. Compared to the seemingly enormous cost to the public of recorded music, 68 3/4 cents to writers and their publishers for 11 songs is undoubtedly the entertainment bargain of an otherwise very expensive decade.

DAVID ROSNER

President, Bicycle Music Co.

Los Angeles