Soundtracks for Indie Films

T

tibobjerome

Active member
I'm pretty sure that question was posed before. But I can;t find any trhread on it. maybe, once somebody posts a good answer for the site admin to stiky it.

Can low-budget indie filmakers use already published music audios or compositions as soundtracks for their work? What are the steps (websites, forms etc...) to ensure that they won't get sued if they distribute their work for profit?

I've seen a lot of indie films with already published audio materials as soundtracks. I just want to be on the safe side rather than finding out too late if ever my product makes it big in the streets.

Because it is obvious a no-to-low budget filmmaker will not have neither the thought nor the money to compose all of his/her soundtracks. Let alone hiring somebody to do so.
 
Are you asking if you can use copyrighted music for your film? If so then, yes, but it is going to cost you....a lot. Searching "copyright music license" should get you the previous threads on this topic. It has been discussed at length in the audio as well as business and other forum topics.

Cliff Notes conclusion: No budget=get a student to compose some original work for you.

Cheers
 
Can low-budget indie filmakers use already published music audios or compositions as soundtracks for their work?

Not unless you get permission (this usually means paying for it)

You need two permissions, one for the song score from the writers and the other for the recording. This can be a long & messy process.

It's best to find musicians to craft a similiar feeling song.

Licensing music is often expensive and NO ONE gets away with sneaking the sound track.

Lawyers stay busy 5 days a week, every week of the year, year after year, with those who think they're clever and try cutting corners.
 
Thanks Guys for the response.

Wabbit, I actually was the one who brought the previous thread back on.

I am a music producer and I have no problem for composition and musicians. I was just looking for a not-too-expensive way to do less work. I wouldn't mind paying a few hundred bucks to be able to use a few tracks. But, like 10s said, it's not only the buck$$ it's also the time-consuming process of getting the license.

So, I'll stick with my own compositions and productions.

One more question... what about the classical songs for which the composers are anonymous, or even Mozart's stuff who have become somewhat universal public good?

Thanks all for the info.
 
tibobjerome said:
One more question... what about the classical songs for which the composers are anonymous, or even Mozart's stuff who have become somewhat universal public good?
Click to expand...

Here's the trick with those... while the music may be public domain, the actual recording may be protected.
 
Hi Tibo,

Actually, if you're only looking for something simple like classic music, you can get royalty free music at affordable rates from many sources. Name that come to mind include Royalty Free Music, CSS, Stock20, Sound-Ideas, SongKick, etc - and I'm only scratching the surface.

Good luck, Michael
 
moonlitnite said:
Hi Tibo,

Actually, if you're only looking for something simple like classic music, you can get royalty free music at affordable rates from many sources. Name that come to mind include Royalty Free Music, CSS, Stock20, Sound-Ideas, SongKick, etc - and I'm only scratching the surface.

Good luck, Michael
Click to expand...

That's very helpful. Thanks.
 
Rehi,

Great - I've found these companies affordable, easy to do business with (downloads WAV/MP3), and have reasonable Terms and Conditions. And you can find good quality material - no one wants so-so elevator music when we've put our heart and soul into making a film.

Have fun, Michael
 
A point to mention here is that most well known classical compositions (Mozart, Beethoven, etc.) are in the public domain, as is any composition that is more than a certain number of years old (they vary between about 50 and 90 years or so). So Beethoven's 5th Symphony, for example, is free and clear to use all you want.

A specific *recording* of it, for example by the NY Philharmonic, isn't though. But your college kid friend could freely put his rendition of Beethoven's 5th all over your movie with complete impunity. Likewise for any composition that has passed into the public domain.

Using the original recording of The Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction" however, is gonna cost ya. Unless you can hold off until anout 2055...

Steppenwolf's "Born To Be Wild", having been used in several gazillion movies so far, probably made many multiples of its original record sales profits for its owner (whoever that might be, the band or someone else who bought it) in film licensing fees.

Nice work if you can get it...
 
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