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Licensing Covers Question
Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2015 8:11 am
by BenChurch
Hi,
I'm wondering about listings that ask for covers. I'm assuming that they need to be licensed to be used, but do you have to do this before submitting or will a music library/publisher do this after they've chosen what they want? I ask as I read this article a little while ago:
http://diymusician.cdbaby.com/musician- ... ver-songs/
Releasing a cover is something I've generally tried to avoid and have even been advised against doing as it is (or was) a bureaucratic minefield. Anybody have any ideas about this?
All the best,
Ben Church
Re: Licensing Covers Question
Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2015 6:53 pm
by Russell Landwehr
I'm pretty sure the answer is "it depends."
If you are talking Film/TV Library, it will be up to them to secure the paperwork from the original writers.
If you are talking about releasing it on a CD yourself and selling that, then research "compulsory license."
Russell
Re: Licensing Covers Question
Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2015 3:21 pm
by BenChurch
Okay, thanks! I thought that might be the case. Just to throw a spanner in the works - what about licensing covers for an online teaching course? Is that a thing?
Re: Licensing Covers Question
Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2015 1:15 am
by mojobone
Teaching could be a matter of 'fair use', under the educational clause, but I think it'd be polite to at least buy the sheet music, if you're gonna and if it's available. At the very least, it could save you some steps, in making a video, since you wouldn't need to generate a chart.
Re: Licensing Covers Question
Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2015 8:37 am
by joyfrost
Now you've peaked my curiosity. Which online course do you teach?
Re: Licensing Covers Question
Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2015 9:09 am
by mojobone
In the case of libraries commissioning covers, they'll take care of the licensing on their end; you just have to make sure you have WFH agreements from anybody you used on the recording and that nobody else can claim a piece of your masters.
Re: Licensing Covers Question
Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2015 1:45 am
by BenChurch
Thanks everyone, I think I've solved it as far as teaching online goes. I think this should cover me until It grows:
http://www.prsformusic.com/users/broadc ... /loml.aspx
joyfrost wrote:Now you've peaked my curiosity. Which online course do you teach?
I don't yet. But such a significant part of my income is derived from teaching music that I'm looking at starting a members site, initially for my existing students but later to make it available to the public. I'll happily keep you posted if you're interested!