music licensing
- Thread starter TheMacB
- Start date
mediamogul
Well-known member
If its an indie band/songwriter/composer etc contact them directly. I was on garageband.com and heard a song i absolutely had to have for the end of my film. I contacted the band and they we worked out a great deal and i eventually did a music video for them as well! If its a song on the charts or from a label that will be a bit different. You need to contct the label, manager etc. They will want some upfront cash. Also all of the above will most likely want to see your film. I synched up the song i mentioned above and sent it to the band members to see and hear. They loved it.
Hope this helps!
Hope this helps!
mediamogul
Well-known member
yes you need a master use license and a synch license.
mediamogul
Well-known member
eriks said:
Most of the time the labels will be very cool and help you out IF its going to a festival. If its getting distribution thats where they will charge you the big money. Also distribs may see your film, love it and ask you if you have the master use and synch license to the music. So you may want to at least know the costs.
You also need the music license and the publishing license. It is best to work through companies that specialize in such matters so as to not end up with a completed film that ends up on the shelf or needing to be remixed because a song was not properly cleared.
See:
http://www.musicbizacademy.com/articles/gman_money.htm
http://www.rightsworkshop.com
See:
http://www.musicbizacademy.com/articles/gman_money.htm
http://www.rightsworkshop.com
GraBird
Member
I continue to be amazed that the music industry doesn't realize what a GOLD MINE they are passing up on, for ultra-low budget filmmakers with minimal distribution expectations who could easily pay a couple of hundred bucks per song to be 100% legal, but can't afford the multi-thousands licensing of the big boys (nor should they, they won't be reaping millions on their product; thousands if they're lucky).
One of these days ASCAP (of which I'm a a member) and BMI will realize this and create a specialized licensing that has a profit cut-off. Say, $250 per song license with a limit of $100,000 gross profits on the film, and after that it requires a full license.
Budding filmmakers could probably manage that to secure their favorite songs for their films.
This way the artists get SOMETHING vs. scaring off everyone or forcing them to go illegal. For the greed of getting say 10 fools to pay $15K for their films that will only gross $50K, they pass up on the 50,000 filmmakers in the same boat who would have paid $250. So the music artists gets their share of $150K vs. $12.5 MILLION!!!
What's that saying, a pound smart but a penny foolish?
The music industry seriously needs to realize the paradigm has changed.
One of these days ASCAP (of which I'm a a member) and BMI will realize this and create a specialized licensing that has a profit cut-off. Say, $250 per song license with a limit of $100,000 gross profits on the film, and after that it requires a full license.
Budding filmmakers could probably manage that to secure their favorite songs for their films.
This way the artists get SOMETHING vs. scaring off everyone or forcing them to go illegal. For the greed of getting say 10 fools to pay $15K for their films that will only gross $50K, they pass up on the 50,000 filmmakers in the same boat who would have paid $250. So the music artists gets their share of $150K vs. $12.5 MILLION!!!
What's that saying, a pound smart but a penny foolish?
The music industry seriously needs to realize the paradigm has changed.
faultygoblin
Active member
"We're finishing up post on a short/student film here at Missouri State and are having an issue with music rights.
We have secured the rights to the actual performance via the band/label but the matter is further complicated by the fact that the song "have yourself a merry little christmas" was actually composed by two people and furthermore for a movie.
Would we also need Warner Brothers permission as the song was first used for Meet me in St. Louis?
The actual letter writing and so forth isn't the issue its finding out who has the rights and how to contact them.
We'd only be showing the short at festivals and certainly wouldn't be selling it or charging admission.
Anyadvice would be much appreciated."
Nm, thanks anyway we ended up using a composer and using one of his pieces instead.
We have secured the rights to the actual performance via the band/label but the matter is further complicated by the fact that the song "have yourself a merry little christmas" was actually composed by two people and furthermore for a movie.
Would we also need Warner Brothers permission as the song was first used for Meet me in St. Louis?
The actual letter writing and so forth isn't the issue its finding out who has the rights and how to contact them.
We'd only be showing the short at festivals and certainly wouldn't be selling it or charging admission.
Anyadvice would be much appreciated."
Nm, thanks anyway we ended up using a composer and using one of his pieces instead.
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