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Re: RAT copyright question???
The last time I looked into the ASCAP/BMI route, I was told I needed
to get a year's license from each, if I was using music from each,
and that would total $20,000. Doesn't matter how often you use it in
that year.
Of course, that was a couple years ago, and they may have come down
in their prices. But I would be careful about who you tell your
plans to, if you're really intent on using published work. It may be
a lot more than you're willing to spend, and then what do you do once
you've alerted the publishers of your intent?
The idea of original music is best if you want to stay legal. Or,
you keep it really quiet and hope for the best.
Francis
>Jeff-
>
>Pre- recorded music is (almost always as far as I know) covered under two
>organizations- the main one is ASCAP (the American Society of Composers
>Athours and Performers)
>
>There are basically two routes to obtaining the legal right to use
>pre-recorded bits of music ( I think recently this has come to include
>electronic sampling and remixing). One is to obtain permission for each
>piece either from the original artist/publisher/agent or from ASCAP/BMI; the
>other is to get a license from ASCAP/BMI which will allow you to use the
>music under certain conditions and restrictions, and covers a wide range of
>affiliated composers and popular artists. They have a website which is
>probably a good place to start...www.ascap.com. They also have offices in
>most major metropolitan areas.
>
>To license or not to license is one of the swords of Damocles for Theatre
>producers; You would think most artists would be grateful for the extra
>exposure and new audiences, and you're statistically unlikely to get caught
>usiing tunes without a license; However, they DO have auditors, and there is
>a Tip-Line, so it IS possible to get caught, and the consequences can be
>pretty serious, legally and financially. Since you're working with a
>'non-profit' ( i presume you mean a charity of some kind ) and one of the
>possible consequences of being caught without a license is to lose 501
>status, It would probably be best to get the figures and see if it's
>worthwhile to buy the rights - otherwise, It may be cheaper to have original
>music written ( which is far preferable in SOOOOOO many ways...).
>
>YET ANOTHER OPTION...'classical' music (Bach, Beethoven, Mozart etc) is
>considered public domain and can be used more or less with impunity...
>
>Good Luck...
>Skip
>
>
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: jeff kitchen <danish50@hotmail.com>
>To: <rat-list@whirl-i-gig.com>
>Sent: Friday, June 23, 2000 6:40 AM
>Subject: RAT copyright question???
>
>
>> I am directing a play for a non-profit organization and would like to use
>a
>> good bit of music in the play... does anyone know the rules governing
>> copywright's, as to who i would need to talk to about rights, cost and
>that
>> sorta thing. Any money for rights to songs is coming out of my pocket so
>any
>> advice would be helpful
>>
>>
>> thanks,
>> jeff
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>