royalty free music

S

steev'sHVX

Well-known member
i just download music from itunes when making my wakeboard videos and drop it in fcp. i know this isnt legal if i was to sell my videos. so i want to start a feature thats going to be legit to sell. how can i get permission to use my choice of songs or am i better off using my friends amatuer beats made on fruityloops. or should i purchase royalty free music from a website.
 
Any of the three options you propose will work, it depends more on what you want for the movie.

1. Getting permission - start by contacting the publisher of the song in question and asking for sub-rights - you are looking for the synchronization rights of the music and permission to use the recording. If it's a big house, expect they won't want to deal with you and that you'll need lots of paperwork to get it to go. If it's a smaller indie unit, they may be more amenable - I've heard of several (in concert with the artist) will grant film rights to independent film producers for little to no cost.

2. This should be easy if your friend is up for it. Just make sure you get his permission in writing to use it and written confirmation it is his original work. Search on google for some sample forms.

3. There is lots of royalty free music available for purchase - if you can find something that suits your film, it's an easy and relatively cheap way to go.
 
i would prefer to take the hard route but i highly doubt that ill even get a response from some major producer. i suppose ill be helping my friends out and use there music.
 
steev'sHVX said:
i would prefer to take the hard route but i highly doubt that ill even get a response from some major producer. i suppose ill be helping my friends out and use there music.
Click to expand...

To use exisitng recordings like the tunes you have been using you need two different licenses from usually two different sources. First you need a sync license from the music publisher - this gives you the rights to reproduce the melody and lyrics juxtaposed to your images. But that by itself only allows you to make your own new recording of the music. Audio recordings have a separate copyright from that of the music that's in them and the sync license deals with the music itself, not recordings of the music. To use a specific recording of the song by a certain artist, you also need a Master Use license from the owner of the master, usually the record label that released it.

There are rights clearance services that will do the legwork to track down the necessary copyright owners and obtain the licenses for you and a google search will turn up a number of them. They aren't free but they have the contacts and know-how that you and I don't and are often well worth the fee they'll charge you.

BTW, the copyright laws don't care about whether you sell your videos or otherwise make any money off of them. If you don't anything at all with it except give it to freinds, show it in festivals, or just post it on YouTube to show off your skills - whatever - you still have to have all the licenses. It's the act of copying, not the act of making money, that copyright law is all about.
 
I use Audio Network. They are one of the best, if not the best, and they are used by a lot of major networks and production companies.

www.AudioNetworkPLC.com

They have offices in NYC and London. Great people to work with. They will even do the searches for the type of music you are looking for.

You can arrange a "Blanket License" for your whole film. Use as much music as you need for a flat fee of $399. The music is from top notch composers and musicians. Many selections have vocals. DVD distribution will cost an extra $70 for licensing. They also have sound fx. For any serious project they are a no brainer.
 
What everyone said and to add..
Royalty free music isn't necessarily free. Read the fine print.
There are however, many very talented composers and musicians that put their work on the net to use for free. Generally they only want credit.

Do a search here and you will find some.
Here is another list:
http://vimeo.com/forums/topic:15630

Once in a while I'll have someone approach me and ask to have their music included. Just look around and talk to people.
 
Thanks everyone
tommy audio network seems the to be the right place for me thank you for sharing that information.

i guess it comes down to the search for the music i want and also able to use.
 
Peternap awesome link major help thanks.

so these free sites. no worries on rights or anything right.
i always credit the artist but i dont need anything signed correct?
 
steev'sHVX said:
Peternap awesome link major help thanks.

so these free sites. no worries on rights or anything right.
i always credit the artist but i dont need anything signed correct?
Click to expand...

Most have some sort of license agreement even if it's just a notice that they only require credit.

Just copy it or fill it in, whatever the license requires, and file it somewhere. I keep a word file with each video that has all the credits and licenses.

On some sites there is an Elicense. I usually just pass on that music. They are a PITA and install on my system.
 
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