Getting permission to use songs for a CD project...

Travis Bolding · Post by **Travis Bolding** » 10 May 2001 8:15 am

Every now and then, I go out to my little "studio" and work up one of my favorites. Someone suggesed I put them together and make a CD. How do I go about getting permission to use these songs, in the event I actually do this and someone actually wants to buy one?
Any info appreciated ~~ Travis

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 10 May 2001 8:50 am

You can do it online in just a few minutes' time thru the Harry Fox Agency. Here's the link you need:

http://www.songfile.com/license_home.html

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www.jimcohen.com

David Pennybaker · Post by **David Pennybaker** » 10 May 2001 10:18 am

Great link, Jim. Thanks!

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The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 10 May 2001 11:32 am

If I had all the great licks, I wouldn't spend so much time on this @#$# computer. (Come to think of it, if I got OFF the @#$# computer more often, maybe I'd have more great licks... hmmmm....)

Travis Bolding · Post by **Travis Bolding** » 10 May 2001 1:04 pm

Thanks Jim, that's exactly what I was looking for. Much appreciated.
~~ Travis

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 10 May 2001 2:27 pm

To record a song on your own personal CD that you will not sell more than 50,000 units; all you need to do is list the song; and songwriter/composer for that song; and your good to go. Those people on the website want your money for nothing.
Ricky

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 10 May 2001 2:34 pm

That may be so, Ricky. But I've heard tales of the Harry Fox Agency "going after" people who sell far less than 50,000 copies of someone else's material. Maybe we can hear from some others on this subject!

Michael Holland · Post by **Michael Holland** » 10 May 2001 2:36 pm

For the final word go to BMI and ASCAP.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Michael Holland on 11 May 2001 at 10:50 AM.]</p></FONT>

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 10 May 2001 7:13 pm

Ricky, with all due respect to the fine player and human being you are, you're giving some VERY dangerous advice. Copyright law is very to the point, and very enforceable, with fines up to $25,000 per offense.

You do not have to go through Harry Fox (who by the way gives all the money to the writers and publishers less a commission that the writer/publisher agrees to and who usually goes to Harry Fox in the first place for collection).

Read the copyright law--you HAVE to secure a mechanical license to commercially release a song written by someone else, either by going through Harry Fox or direct to the publisher. Also, by law, they HAVE to grant you the license if the song has been previously released commercially (no matter how small the release), and you HAVE to pay them $ .075 per song sold (and most publishers ask for a certain number of units paid in advance--with Harry Fox it is 500).

Folks, that's the law, and while you might not get caught, ignorance is no excuse, as in all other crimes...

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 10 May 2001 7:35 pm

By the way, the cost isn't really all too bad. For a typical 4 minute song, if you're distributing 500 or fewer copies, the fee is about $39. If the song is over 5 minutes, it's about $45. If it's in the public domain (e.g., Shenandoah, etc.) then it's free of course. For my whole CD, I think the royalties came to under $350. Compared to the total cost of production, it's not that large a price to "do the right thing".

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www.jimcohen.com

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 10 May 2001 11:50 pm

Absolutely take these guys advice if your worried or don't know about this situation.
Ricky