Help: Song Licensing

Subject: Song Licensing
From: dwditty
Date: 16 May 02 - 03:01 PM

I am now set up to record and produce "home-made" cds on my computer. I would like to distribute a bunch to friends and family and maybe sell a few at gigs. I would anticipate under 100 in the life of a cd "project." I do lots of other people's songs and would not want to rip anyone off. My questions are: 1. Is this a scenario in which I should secure licenses to songs? and 2. How does one go about it?

I checked in at our old friend Harry Fox, and the minimum license through them is for 500 copies or about $40US per song. Obviously I would rather not spend $500-1000 on a "for fun" project. Opinions and/or specific knowledge is most welcome.

Off to comb the public domain lists.

thanks

dw

Subject: RE: Help: Song Licensing
From: GUEST,maryrrf
Date: 16 May 02 - 04:04 PM

Interesting question. That's why I've stuck to public domain and personal friends who have given permission.

Subject: RE: Help: Song Licensing
From: dwditty
Date: 17 May 02 - 08:26 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Help: Song Licensing
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 17 May 02 - 09:28 AM

I paid for one license through Harry Fox for our ShoreGrass In Connecticut CD. Their rate is the statutory amount, so you would pay the same amount going through a publisher - which I did for another song on the CD. I also sent the statutory rate directly to a friend for songs used by permission.

We recorded for the same reasons as you, but stuck to mostly original and public domain songs to keep the costs down. I personally didn't want to worry about licensing and copyright issues and using someone's music without paying the royalty, so I just paid it and forgot about it. You'll hopefully get it back when you sell your CDs.