I got permission to use Pomp & Circumstance! :D hehehe... It was easy to do, BUT I had to find info on the song my self.

First off, you can search for almost ANY US copyrighted work here: www.copyright.gov

I got the P&C by going to the school & getting a copy of the cover of the sheet music. Then, I searched for them (pub comapny) on the net. Then, after I confirmed that they were the actual company that covered the arrangement (Alfred Music Co., Inc.), I searched their FAQ, found out an e-mail for copyright permissions. E-mailed them the info they had laid out in their FAQ. They have a min fee of $10 for recording, so I'm paying $10 for up to 50 DVD sets.

But, I also need to clear the girl who's singing the Star Spangled Banner (that's easy cuz she's a friend and I've worked with her before), another girl who's singing another song I need to clear, and 2 students who are writing their own song (I need to clear their song & them). I typed up forms today & they will all get the forms tonight (now, really) while at prom (graduatrion is saturday of next week!)

I gotta tell ya though, this is a PAIN IN MY ASS! If the commercial song that's being sung doesn't get cleared, or they want to charge too much (i'm only charging $10 for the DVD's), then i'll have to leave that section out (and she's a REALLY good singer, and i'm afraid i'd loose a cople playing clients [her family] if it doesn't clear).

So, it's easy to get permission. Could be expensive. Honestly, I wish I could just pay a small blanket fee (say, 10% of my profits or sales, whatever) to the RIAA, give them a list of songs, and THEY hand over checks. I'm not even concerned about much of a profit: i'm doing this because 1) trying to be a nice guy 2) want to help out school (i'm using a combo of their/my equipment) 3) hoping people will hire me to do some video work for them.

Last year I tried ads in the paper, didn't work. So, this year i'm basicly doing work for near nothing (good exp though) for someone to hire me. :)

Maybe someone here knows info on it. :)

There is such an abundance of local bands willing to “help a brother out” that I see no need in going through any involved process to gain usage rights to a song. I have complied a huge list of talented local bands that are willing to give me nonexclusive rights to their original music. In return I put a mini ad for each band used in a special “about the music” section on the DVD. That usually consist of a photo they provide, contact info, and website. They help me and in turn I give them free advertising. A guy from a local garage band contacted me the other day to let me know he had sold a CD to someone in South Africa that had heard them on one of my DVDs. How cool is that.

I realize this does not apply to filming most special events. I mainly do training videos. The only events that I do are Mixed Martial Arts / NHB events and I use my own background music on them any ways.

Weezer's Island in the sun. I think I found something on halleonard.com...but I'm not sure. Thanks for the help. Hopefully I'll be able to do this without having to pay too much. I contacted them and am waiting for a reply.

It's not impossible to get permission, but I have come away from the fight with this opinion: the law says you have to get permission, the record companies will not grant permission - won't even return correspondence in my case - so legally I cannot do it. Even though I asked for permission - ignoring a request is the same thing as denying it, apparantly. Read all about it here

:(

I wonder if you used it & ignored their lawers if they would understand you don't want to talk to them eigther. :)

Well, I will be the first to admit here that I have done that. I do make an effort to get permission, and I insist that the client own the CD (or I will buy a copy and include it with the project). I do this out of competition. Other vidiots in the area have no shame, and attempting to educate the client just loses business. So, if they insist on using that music, they sign a form, they provide a cd, and I try to anticipate the total distribution (this is only in the case of private weddings and such) - and take my chances. But I do use as much SmartSound and now Acid as I can.

Sorry, I didn't really understand that last post. so you give a cd with each dvd(or tape) you make? Do you charge your client extra for a song they want? So basically you do not do this legally(meaning you don't get permission...even though you do try). I'm thinking I probably won't either. Seems like A LOT of work. thanks for the help.

Peter John Ross has composed and donated completely free to filmmakers some royalty free music to get you started. There are 16 free pieces on the sonnyboo site at present. All you have to do is make an acknowledgement to Peter Ross in your film. The URL is:

http://www.sonnyboo.com/music/music.htm

(Incidentally, how do you turn this into a proper link!)

One of the pieces is called "Really Bad 80s Synth Song", but it isn't really too bad at all, and I am using it in my latest film. Has anyone else come across this site and used Peter's music? I wonder how many other "completely free" music sites there are on internet?

Regards Fred

thanks for the link. yeah the 80's song and "smooth" are pretty cool. Anybody else know of anymore TOTALLY free music? thanks.

"http://www.sonnyboo.com/music/music.htm

(Incidentally, how do you turn this into a proper link!)"

I still don't know. When I asked that very question thinking I would save folks the "copy and paste" inconvenience, I was head-bashed with the condescending "GO FISH" ("do a search, it's been covered here before").

I tried that with no luck so folks are just gonna have to live with "copy and paste" in my case.

And folks PLEASE.... if you don't want to answer a question I ask then PLEASE DON'T ANSWER!!! (Sorry, had to get that off my chest).

BJ

P.S. - Has anyone tried contacting the three (3) performing rights organizations (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC) to get permissions? All music publishing is associated with one of these groups... they are the ones who hand out the royalty checks.

Just kicked off a render and thought I would check the boards....

the thread referenced above is kinda long, but all the info is in there. Basically there are two licenses you need - the ascap/bmi will get you in touch with the publishers of the song, this would allow you or anyone to record a cover of the song for whatever purpose - but you also need the permission of the owner of the recording - Sony Music, for instance - to use an already-recorded version (Celine Dion in my example)

...and, as far as links, the easiest way to figure it out is to right-click this page and choose View Source. Look for the linked word and you will see how to do it - it is nothing more than the html codes for a link.

Hope that helps

David

>>>Basically there are two licenses you need - the ascap/bmi will get you in touch with the publishers of the song, this would allow you or anyone to record a cover of the song for whatever purpose - but you also need the permission of the owner of the recording - Sony Music, for instance - to use an already-recorded version<<<

There was another thread last week that covered "covers". To do a cover verison you do not need any sort of license or permission. If you, yourself, sell that newly recorded version than you will need to pay royalties on copies sold - this is where the publishing companies come into play. If you are using a song that is already recorded in a product that you are distributing yourself than not only would you need to deal with publishing but also, before you could even place it onto your product, the mechancal use license and a sync licene if it is to be used in a film or video production. But to just do the cover - you do not need anything.

(Incidentally, how do you turn this into a proper link!)"

The standard HTML HREF command.

"...and, as far as links, the easiest way to figure it out is to right-click this page and choose View Source. Look for the linked word and you will see how to do it - it is nothing more than the html codes for a link. "

Thanks David, that was a very helpful response.... it never even occured to me to use View Source.... DUH !

Back to topic: ..... and then there's the Harry Fox Agency.... why does it have to be so complicated? I'll bet some enterprising soul will eventually be able to create a lucritive business by providing a single source for music permissions.

Blues

http://www.entlawdigest.com/story.cfm?storyID=2458

You will have to pay to view the whole case. Just an FYI.

Yo HF,
I've been lucky to get involved in local television, and have been working in production (commercials). I've more than tripled my earnings from the past 3 months COMBINED! Maybe you should look into TV commercials. I kinda got an edge since I've worked in radio for the past 6 years, so creating commercials isn't new to me, just the visual part. Email me:
bigsole@hawaii.rr.com
I want to see your work. I might need editors for projects. If there's a way to conquer the distance between us, then maybe we can work somn out.
holla back.

Blues Jam:

(1) Go to the web page that you want the link to point to, and copy the entire address link, including the http:// part.

(2) Suppose you want to link to Microsoft. Here's what your text would look like:

The web page for Microsoft is (a href=http://www.microsoft.com/homepage/ms.htm)here.(/a)

In this example, I've substituted parentheses for the "<" and ">" symbols that are actually used. The resulting text will appear as: The web page for Microsoft is here.

Copy this down to paper and play with it for a few minutes, and then try it out. Note that you paste the link address right after the equal sign.

I recorded the graduation yesterday, and they son "I will Remember You." ASCAP has that song, so I just e-mailed them to ask about liscencing. Maybe that will be easier then going around & finding each person individualy. We'll see. :)

Just thought i'd psot my results. :)

I also contacted ASCAP about “I Will Remember You” for the graduation video I was doing this year. The publishers are spread between ASCAP and BMI. Here they are:

ASCAP
TCF MUSIC PUBLISHING INC
C/O TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX FILM CORP.

BMI
FOX FILM MUSIC CORPORATION
SEAMUS EGAN MUSIC
SONY/ATV SONGS LLC

As I understand it, you have to get permission from all four (4) publishers before you can use but I’m no expert (or lawyer). I gave up and used a combination of some music I composed in ACID Pro and some SmartSounds music. I would be interested in how you make out. Good Luck,

~jr

I'm using royality free/ACID music for the end of the graduation, but I can't for that song. It was sung, and i'd have to take out that whole section (a senior was shot & killed this year in a shotgun accident, that's why it was sung).

If they are just using the words, do I still need the liscence from the publisher & such or just the writers?

Did you get permission yet?

ASCAP cannot issue sync licenses. Nor can BMI or SESAC. or any other publishers rights group. This can only be done with the copyright or publishing holder directly, or by using a clearing house like a Harry Fox agency.