Online music thieves can't interpose with the hundreds of songwriters Hanna Rochelle Schmieder has on her payroll.
Her company, Lyric Culture, prints famous song lyrics on high-end jeans and T-shirts - and pays artists for the privilege.
"My destination is to save the music business," says Schmieder, herself a singer-songwriter. "This is around generating new revenue streams for musicians ... The record companies claim a piece of the tour and the merchandise, but they can't take a part of this."
Legendary and lesser-known songwriters earn equal royalties for each lyric-covered item Schmieder's party sells. John Lennon and Paul McCartney make money for every "Let it Be" or "Can't Buy Me Love" T-shirt sold; and when someone buys the groovy red-and-pink top inspired by Gloria Gaynor's disco hymn "I Will Survive," writers Frederick Perren and Dino Fekaris have paid.
Schmieder made deals with all the major music-publishing houses, licensing rights to hits by the Beatles, Janis Joplin, Johnny Cash, Aretha Franklin and innumerous other artists. Schmieder selects T-shirt-worthy tracks, then Lyric Culture's creative team interprets each song with original, hand-drawn designs. The far-famed lyrics are scattered inside and outside each pricey piece.
"I can't believe I'm entrusted with the bequest of the most famed words in the world," says the willowy blond Schmieder, dressed top to toe in her designs.
Lyric Culture jeans, scarves, T-shirts, belt buckles and leather jackets sell for $75 to $625 at boutiques and forte stores. Lyrix, the company's youth aggregation - which features T-shirts and hoodies with designs inspired by Miley Cyrus and "American Idol" - sells for $23 to $55 at Macy's and other section stores. Artist royalties range from 50 cents to $20 per item.
Schmieder, 31, accidentally created her company two geezerhood ago during a dreamy moment in the recording studio. She was committal to writing songs on her jeans in unmixed old lasting pen when entrepreneurial inspiration struck.
"That was the electric light moment," she says. "I realized I could help musicians mother new gross without touch like they're selling out."
Songwriter and producer Antonina Armato - wHO has penned tunes for Miley Cyrus, Vanessa Hudgens and the Jonas Brothers - loved the Lyric Culture construct before Schmieder approached her about licensing her songs. Schmieder's company "supports the dreams and the aspirations and the art," Armato says. "It's almost like she's giving a scholarship to these people wHO are organism creative."
Entertainment lawyer Jay Cooper, who specializes in music and copyright issues at Greenberg Traurig, says that while virtually musicians make their money through gross revenue and performances of songs, licensing income is a welcome blessing - especially in an industry that's seen billion-dollar losses because of illegal downloads.
"It by itself is not passing to salve the music industry, merely it's sure as shooting a nice plus," he says. "No matter how successful you've been, the business depends on continuing success."
Printing lyrics on T-shirts and jeans is a harmless way for musicians to gain extra money for do work already through, he says.
"There's very little downside for artists," said Evan Serpick, associate editor at Rolling Stone. "They're happy to have every source of revenue they can get."
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On the Net:
http://www.lyricculture.com
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