How to Purchase License to Use Music - Anybody?

[Jeffphoto]

I have been contacted to take photos for a local swimming team and to put together a slide show for the team's end of season party. I'm using pro-show gold (and loving it by the way) to create the slide show.

I have picked out some music from my own collection of CDs that I'd like to use for the show.

Since I am an Arteeeest I want to make sure that my brother and sister artists are duly and rightly compensated for their work, so I want to purchase the rights to use the music for this one showing.

But how to do so?

They will not charge for entry to the party, but each team member did pay to be on the team. There was no interest ahead of time for selling this slide show (as perhaps a team fundraiser) so it'll be just one viewing for about 150 families.

Anyway, I've contacted the BMI / ASCAP websites, and one band (The Flaming Lips) directly via e-mail. These people ain't exactly making it easy to do this, I was hoping to get some pricing stuff off of their website.

Has anyone done this before or have any pointers? I'd really appreciate any guidance.

[jpreston]

Jeff,

Check these out- https://www.ascap.com/weblicense/webfaq.html

http://www.stock20.com/commerce/index.php

http://www.sesac.com/repertory/repertory_main.asp

http://mpa.org/

http://www.photodex.com/products/mediasource

It would probably be easier and cheaper to find a local band/artist that is looking for some exposure and work out a deal to use their music.

[Jeffphoto]

Awesome. Thanks, Jeff! Any ideas on a ballpark figure for the cost?

We talkin' $100? $500? $1,000?

[skagitswimmer]

Contact NikNikon on this website who has been posting his own tunes to istock which now offers sound and video clips for use.

[jpreston]

Great idea Stephen! Nik is the total package:cool:.

[NikNikon]

I wondered why my ears were ringing, someone was talking about me here. Its true I've been submitting some old recordings I did back before I took up photography to iStock. Since I've been concentrating on photography the last five years or so I've been out of the rhythm of recording. With the new audio section added to iStock and the idea Jeff mentioned to me in a PM about making royalty free music for wedding photo slide shows among other things I might just get back in the swing of things and see what I can put together when my photo work slows down. Very busy this weekend with a wedding and a junior miss contestant.

[wleebrown]

Jeff,

I've looked for answers to this same question many times. I even spoke directly with some of the content owners (Sony BMG, etc). All seem to say give us a call when you have budget in the range of 100K or higher, until then forget about using popular music. The problem seems to be you need several different licenses, mechanical, master, and sync licenses (at a minimum ... I'm not a lawyer so don't risk your business on my comments, but I've spent a ton of time trying to figure this one out). The sync license being the one that allows you to put music and pictures still or motion together. This license requires permission from all the owners of the content. Usually this is at least the songwriter but usually includes a host of other folks. So unless you're making a major motion picture, no one seems to be interested in working with you to get the necessary licenses.

My backup solution has been to find royalty free music. One good source is this website, http://incompetech.com, the author makes it very easy to both use music while only requiring credit for the work, but also makes it easy to send donations.

[ChiefBill]

This is just why so many people just use the music and don't care about licenses. I know, I wouldn't like someone using my photos without my permission, but ASCAP and the industry just make it almost impossible. At least in the photo industry the use rights are straightforward - and you can usually negotiate a price. Years ago we use to have a summer festival in town, and we had to get an ASCAP license (or some such thing) to allow the bands to perform "other artist's" music. We finally figured out that if we didn't get the license, the ASCAP police weren't going to show up! In addition, about the worst they would do is demand you to cease and desist. Sure they could take legal action - sue you for lost revenue, or get a restraining order, but it would cost them more in legal fees then they would get from the action.

Bill