Recording CD-how to purchase rights

Subject: Recording CD-how to purchase rights
From: GUEST,The Regal Royales
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 03:15 PM

Help - we are in process of recording a CD of traditional songs many of which lyrics are copyrighted. How do we go about getting the rights to record them?

Subject: RE: Recording CD-how to purchase rights
From: MMario
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 03:21 PM

Is this Princess Jane or the Duchess?

"traditional" and "copyright" are contridictions in terms - Any specifics re: songs?

(sometimes you will see a copyright notice that applies to a particular arrangement - and even more frequently copyright to a particular RECORDING - but not necessarily the lyrics and/or tune.)

don't forget you can always e-mail me at [e-mail] org as well.

Subject: RE: Recording CD-how to purchase rights
From: GUEST,The Regal Royales
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 03:26 PM

Hey MMario, how cool is that? Wild Mountain Thyme for one, Sailor Boy from Crimson Pirates and Black is the Color Of My True Loves Hair, which was rewritten by John Jacob Niles in the 20s I believe.
(You were great in Vermont!)

Subject: RE: Recording CD-how to purchase rights
From: dwditty
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 03:38 PM

If you are in the US, most licensing is done through the Harry Fox Agency (www.songfile.com). Search for the song, and if there, you pay with credit card. It has been a year since I checked but then it was 8 cents/song times the number of cd's being made (there was a minimum I believe - maybe 500). The price is different if the song is over 5 minutes. If the songs are not there, you will have to do some internet digging to track down the owner of the publishing rights. Good luck.

dw

Subject: RE: Recording CD-how to purchase rights
From: MMario
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 03:39 PM

Okay - Wild Mountain Thyme you are probably okay on. (unless you duplicate someone's arrangement)


Sailor Boy - your best bet is to contact the Crimson pirates - either it is something they came up with - in which case you need to talk with them - or they will know the information. Technically if it is thiers - since they recorded it you can record it as long as you pay them the mechanical copyright fee (approx 9 cents a copy)

'Black is the color' - this was collected prior to 1923 - which is the magic year for copyright here in the states. The version in the DT collected by Sharp is one. If Niles version is pre 1923 you are safe with that one - otherwise you might want to use an older arrangement or do your own.


and thank you! So were you !

Subject: RE: Recording CD-how to purchase rights
From: Lester
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 03:52 PM

If you go the the Mechanical Copyright Priotection Society site and look for AP2 Agreement here you can find out all about it. For a low volume CD the costs are minimal.

Subject: RE: Recording CD-how to purchase rights
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 04:07 PM

Hello, Regal Royales - You might want to ask all your questions here in this thread. I think I'd disagree with MMario about "Wild Mountain Thyme." You can check all the threads (click) we have on the song. While it certainly has traditional roots in the traditional song, Braes of Balquidder, the modern Wild Mountain Thyme was most probably written by the McPeake family. This origins thread tells the story. The Digital Tradition attributes it to Jimmy McPeake, but the thread names Francis McPeake (and that's the name at Songfile.com). Note that Songfile also has attributions to Judy Collins and several others, so the issue is muddy.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Recording CD-how to purchase rights
From: Jim McLean
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 06:20 PM

Jimmy McPeake was a cousin, the copyright is attributed to Francis (the grandfather) McPeake

Subject: RE: Recording CD-how to purchase rights
From: GEST
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 04:41 PM

Can an heir inherit a copyright or re-establish a copyright after 50 years? Could that explain attributions to Jimmy McPeake, the grandson of Francis McPeake?