Tech: What Licences please! UK

Subject: Tech: What Licences please! UK
From: wilbyhillbilly
Date: 23 Mar 11 - 12:53 PM

Before I get roasted, I have searched the forum and know there are hundreds of threads dealing with copyright, but I cannot find one that answers precisely my predicament which is as follows.

I have thousands of various tracks (private and commercial) from pre 1940s to the current decade and have decided that I want to create compilations under various headings, mainly under my current secondary banner "Preserving Precious Memories" and transfer them to CD/MP3 for sale.

Now during my research I have found that I will possibly need an AP2 licence from MCPS, but they state

"The AP Licences cover the payment of Mechanical Royalties only, which are paid to Music Publishers for the use of Musical Works. Sound Recording rights must be licensed directly from record companies (where applicable)."

I am trying to find the other organisation that I am sure exists to cover the sound recording side.

My decaying memory needs jogging as I am sure I used to know this organisation but I just can't seem to find it.

Also I will be releasing tracks by various artistes in a variety of genres (including folk), mostly written and performed by friends and acquaintances, but obviously I will get their permission first.

I am very excited and can't wait to get started, this has been an ambition of mine for years, now finally I have the time, expertise, and inclination to start.

Any advice/help will be very welcome, and many thanks in advance.

Subject: RE: Tech: What Licences please! UK
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 23 Mar 11 - 01:09 PM

Do you mean PRS, which is on the same website.

http://www.prsformusic.com/Pages/default.aspx

My understanding is that if you want to create a CD etc, then that is MCPS, whereas if you want to register your songs, it would be PRS and if you sang somebody elses song, that would also be PRS

Not sure if thats what you mean.

Subject: RE: Tech: What Licences please! UK
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 23 Mar 11 - 01:21 PM

Ooops I am talking UK

Subject: RE: Tech: What Licences please! UK
From: GUEST,Graham Bradshaw
Date: 24 Mar 11 - 05:35 AM

To answer the OP, in the UK, you need MCPS for the composition, plus for the sound recordings you need PPL (Phonographic Performance Ltd). The copyright in the sound recording lasts for 50 years, so the old stuff will now be out of copyright. All the early Cliff Richard stuff has now dropped out(1958/59/60/61), hence all the low price compilations being issued. The early Beatles stuff will start dropping out in 2012.

You do not need to worry about PRS, unless you intend playing the CDs in public, on radio etc. If you do, the person doing the playing will need a license from them.

This is a simple reading of the minefield that is copyright, but should get you sorted.

G

Subject: RE: Tech: What Licences please! UK
From: wilbyhillbilly
Date: 24 Mar 11 - 09:21 AM

Thanks very much Graham, that helps a lot. Phonographic Performance was the one that my tired old brain would just not bring up.

It's good to know about the PRS bit as well.

Now I can make a start down what I suspect will be a very "Long and Winding Road" :-)

John