What's Available for Copywrite Music Use?

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Permalink Reply by Shaw Productions Inc. on July 17, 2009 at 1:36pm

Earl, I sent you an email on how to do it.

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Permalink Reply by Shaw Productions Inc. on July 21, 2009 at 8:40pm

Keep in mind there is a difference between copyright infringment and what is known as Fair Use. Basically, the way I see it, if you are burning music to resell you are infringing on one's copyright thus trying to make profit from their music. But I am assuming you are meaning that you want to use some music for a video that is not being sold for the purpose of selling the music nor are you putting it on television. Most owners of music only request that you give them credit for the music.
One thing that I have done is purchased music on ebay. Very inexpensive and you are given a license to use it. Another thing I do is make use of my Karaoke music. I like this better as an option because for one thing it is not original music and it's music with no vocals.
Joan - Shaw Productions Inc. Las Vegas

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Permalink Reply by Bill Mecca on July 21, 2009 at 9:28pm

Doubt it will happen. Small independent producers are too small potatoes for them to worry about. Until you use their music without paying a licensing fee, then watch out! I don't use popular music, I either create my own, or access other musicians I know and get their permission, but usually I use royalty free music, thru Digital Juice, Narrator Tracks, Music2Hues, Smartsound.

I host some of my original music on soundclick.com and there you have the ability to contact the author about licensing.

Fair use is a defense you may be able to use once you are sued, I wouldn't rely on it.

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Permalink Reply by Jay Michael on July 22, 2009 at 3:09pm

I may use a song in something personal or for fun but if it's going out into the world for profit then I use royalty free music. I use Digital Juice, Phoenix Clips, and others. Plus Magix has a good Sound Pools collection and you can make your own. Not worth taking the chance when so much cheap or free music is out there. ;-)

Also consider this. By using a popular song you can actually reduce the impact of your video. Most people already have visuals to a song in their head. Either the band, the music video, or their own imaginations visuals.

If you use a popular song the viewer may feel you are taking away from that. They may judge your video against the other one or simply tune it out because to them it doesn't fit. Deep inside they may not like the idea that their favorite song is changed visually. They may take a negative attitude like, "Oh, yet another video done to the tune of___"

If your video doesn't compliment the song or fit the way they think it should, based on an already preconceived idea of the song then they will not like your video. No matter how good it is.

When you present a video with royalty free music they have never heard, the full impact of the video will be perceived. They are not comparing it to anything and your video will be what sticks with them if they ever hear that music again.

So ask yourself, do you want your video to be the one thousandth video done to "Stairway to Heaven", or do you want something original? Something that will carry the full impact of your work and efforts? Something that, when seen, will create and maintain visuals to that tune. Your visuals.

Just about every cool song, especially those from the 1970's has been made into a commercial. The visuals of that commercial are still in every ones head. They relate the song to that commercial even though they may not remember the product. So you are competing with that as well when you use popular songs.

If you use Michael Jacksons "Thriller" no one is going to remember your video, they will remember MJ's zombie makeup and doing the moonwalk so you've lost that impact for your video. After your video has played the last frame I guarantee you the conversation will be about Michael Jackson and that crazy video he did back in the 1980's. Your video and it's visuals will be lost on them. They won't remember it. They have already associated that song with MJ and other images.

So ask yourself, do you want to put all of your work and efforts into something that will carry the full impact of it's presentation, or ride on the popularity of another piece of work that will likely not support it?

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Permalink Reply by Phoenix on July 29, 2009 at 2:39pm

great post!
There are TONS of great tracks available at www.phoenixclips.com for justa couple bucks! That would save you THOUSANDS!
Unlike other sites offering royalty free music that sounds like it was created by some program on some computer, phoenixclips.com offers real music performed by real people and real bands. There is some awesome stuff there you should go have a listen :)

www.phoenixclips.com

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Permalink Reply by grinner on September 7, 2009 at 11:38am

I've never had a problem using the song I need. It's a matter of writing the proper check to the proper folks. When I don't have a budget for this (and I usually don't) I use dewolfemusic.com. They rock. Real musicians, not a mutitracks keyboard that reeks of library music. They haggle to. You can negotiate one flat fee per production and not have to count needledrops. That makes creating less distracting for me.

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Permalink Reply by Pierre Samuel Rioux on October 29, 2009 at 9:58pm

Hi Earl
I used copyright free music or buy out music.
I got some from UK, Australia,USA, North Europe it's very easy.
I got the full kit musicoman a member sell and i think it's a good start kit he got a big variety.

For Guedelon book 2 my documentary i finishing now i got some music from a winning composer and she win price
for music she did for a documentary for the BBC.This sound cost me 39 $ and if the film passing to a tv station i need to send a cue sheet so the station need to pay also.But the tendency is more like buy out free.At those price it's a no exclusive use and expecting some other using it also.

I like to use the same composer and do not be afraid to contact them some could modify the sound they did like musicoman change the beat on a sound track for me. So working with the musician is a + for your work.

Pierre Sam

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Permalink Reply by Anthony Walters on November 9, 2010 at 9:58am

Dewolfe are good, but often as a new customer you can't access the music immediately - you need to be verified by them as legitimate and after that they allow you access. You could also try Audio Network or Cinephonix . They also have a good article at this link on using production music.

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Permalink Reply by boycalgary on January 18, 2011 at 3:21pm

At www.newdogdigital.com we just added more music collections and also a HUGE collection of sound FX and natural soundscapes.

 

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Permalink Reply by grinner on January 29, 2011 at 11:52am

I do. I imagine it'll be through itunes. A fee for download, a fee for one off use, fees per use based on audience size, ect. Kind of the way it otta be.

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