Information on music licensing, including companies that syndicate and license musical products.
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Music Licensing
Get pre-cleared music for your projects through music licensing servicesBy Sharon Cullars, Freelance Writer Music licensing services help you navigate the complex process of intellectual property clearance to obtain that piece of music you're looking for. Whenever you hear music performed, whether on the radio, in an elevator or even in a street performance, know that the music is licensed, usually through the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). As music is often a vital component to marketing, especially in television and radio advertising, you may at times need to obtain record licensing. Fees vary depending on the usage or popularity of the song. For example, in the United States, the licensing fee for a popular song in a commercial can run from $75,000 to $200,000 for a year's usage on television or radio.
Even if you manage a public venue like a restaurant, tavern or hotel, you still need to obtain licensing to play background music. Here are some things to do to get a music copyright license:
1. Search music licensing companies to get a music license for television and radio.
2. Get general music licensing for a variety of venues.
3. As an alternative, consider purchasing royalty-free music.
Find a music licensing service that can get you the music rights for advertising
Find a music licensing agency or service that provides a variety of pre-cleared music genres that you can use in your television or radio commercials. Search through catalogs and sample works for other clients to get a feel for what you are looking for.
Try:
Getty Images offers a large catalog of songs, from independent artists representing jazz, country, pop, rock, R&B, ambient, classical and other genres. All songs are pre-cleared and ready to license, and payment is through credit card or a Getty account. The Music Bridge provides clearance and licensing on various projects, including television and commercials. Contact them for free consulting.
Find music broadcast licensing for general venues
Whether you own or manage a health spa or a restaurant or are planning a festival, ambient music creates an atmosphere that entertains your clients and customers. Find a service where you can obtain music licenses for general venues.
Try:
Sesac offers music licensing for country clubs, health clubs, malls, restaurants, taverns and festivals. Create an account for a variety of premiums, including an extensive song catalog. BMI is in the business of licensing music for thousands of member businesses, including restaurants, hotels and stores. The service represents millions of musical works, making licensing very cost effective. Online invoicing simplifies administration.
Find royalty-free music for your projects as an alternative to music licensing
You can find hundreds of online libraries containing royalty-free music. Some you can instantly download, or you can subscribe to a service. This is preferable for projects that require simple tracks like websites, presentations, telephone hold music or software demos.
Try:
PremiumBeat.com offers a library of royalty-free music that is downloadable. A variety of genres is available for new media and multimedia platforms. Find music for promotional materials, even online video games. Fresh Music provides a library of quality royalty-free music that you can simply purchase online.
- An attorney experienced with intellectual property law can also give you a breakdown on the type of music licensing you need and when you would need it so that you will not violate any copyright laws.
Top Performance Royalties Sound Exchange Licensing. Buy Now!
Fast, Efficient & Affordable Music Licensing. Contact GreenLight Today
Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS)
AMCOS represents the interests of music publishers and their writers in Australia and New Zealand. AMCOS licenses a number of music reproduction rights for its members and distributes copyright royalties. It is a fully owned subsidiary of Australian Music
Australasian Performing Right Association Ltd. (APRA)
Copyright collection agency that has composer, lyricist and music publisher members, and represents many more international associates for local rights.
Independent firm of chartered accountants providing integrated services to owner-managed businesses.
BMG Music Publishing, a unit of BMG, has emerged in the top four of international music publishing groups and is the world's third largest publisher of classical music.
http://www.bmgmusicsearch.com/
British Academy of Composers & Songwriters
The academy protects and, where possible, increases the value of copyright with publishers, collecting societies and broadcasters in both the UK and worldwide.
http://www.britishacademy.com/
British Phonographic Industry (BPI)
As the industry's trade association, BPI represents the interests of British record companies. BPI is a trade body and an authoritative source of industry information that produces quarterly industry statistics, oversees the certified awards, lobbies gov
Music performing rights organization that collects royalties for songwriters in film, television, musical theatre and classical music composers and music publishers.
Independent royalties consultancy specializing in both music and intellectual property royalties.
Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency Ltd. (CMRRA)
Non-profit music licensing agency, which represents the vast majority of music copyright owners doing business in Canada.
http://www.cmrra.ca/home3/home3.html
Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI)
Company that enables churches to easily, affordably and legally copy music for congregational use, to comply with copyright laws.
Composers & Authors Society of Singapore (COMPASS)
Organization created to protect and promote the copyright interests of composers, authors and publishers of musical works and their related lyrics.
Company offering libraries and CDs of royalty-free (buy-out) production music and sound effects.
Delphion Intellectual Property Network (IPN)
Free web site for searching, viewing and analyzing patent documents.
Found in Studio City, CA and handles the permission process for music clearances in motion pictures, television, home video and multimedia. Also, operates an extensive, proprietary database of song ownership and has tracked performance of copyright owner
Offers a song catalog with over one million copyrights and a searchable database, sound clips, sync licensing, global directory, news, and much more.
German Society for Musical Performing Rights and Mechanical Reproductions Rights (GEMA)
Collecting society that also stands up nationally, internationally and in the EC for the legal advancement of copyright.
International Music Joint Venture (IMJV)
Joint venture of ASCAP, Buma/Stemra and MCPS-PRS that has led to a transparecy in back-office processes as well as faster and higher payout of royalties.
la Société Belge des Auteurs, Compositeurs et Editeurs (SABAM)
Site of the Belgian Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers.
Mechanical Copyright Protection Society (MCPS)
Royalty collection society that licences the recording and use of music in all its shapes and forms. MCPS specialists ensure that their members music is properly licensed, and that royalties are paid quickly and efficiently to their members.
Features a complete source of music for use in television, radio and film, as well as multimedia and industrial applications.
Allows for Mechanical and Synchronization licensing. Some restrictions may prohibit McCartney compositions from commercial use without written authorization from MPL Communications, Inc.
http://www.mplcommunications.com/
Performs licensing, copyright, cue sheet, mechanical, sample, and public domain issues for all media, such as Motion Picture, Television soundtracks, compilation records, infomercials, Radio, Video, DVD, Corporate Videos and Meetings. Based in Sherman Oa
http://www.musicclearance.com/
Classical music label offering a range of repertoire for licensing.
http://www.naxos.com/naxos/naxos%20licensing%20(bottom).asp
Norwegian Performing Right Society (TONO)
TONO is the only organization in Norway to give licence on behalf of the composers and authors. TONO protects the performing (financial and legal) rights of Norwegian and foreign composers, authors and publishers of music.
Performing Artists Media Rights Association (PAMRA)
Collecting society for performers that pays out money to qualifying performers for the broadcast of their recorded performances. As an organization, PAMRA is better able to defend performers rights and earnings than individuals can and it is dedicated to
Performing Rights Society (PRS)
Association of composers, songwriters and music publishers. It administers the 'performing right' in their music.
Performing rights organization that represents songwriters and publishers and their right to be compensated for having their music performed in public.
Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN)
Not-for-profit Canadian society that ensures its member composers, lyricists, songwriters and music publishers are compensated when their music is broadcast or performed in public.
Society of Italian Authors and Composers (SIAE)
Organization for the protection of intellectual works whose aim has been that of joining together authors, publishers and other copyright owners for the protection of copyright works in Italy and abroad.
SoperSound Production Music Library
A complete source of background music for television, feature film, radio, and multi-media as well as educational and corporate applications. Based in Ashland, OR.
Svenska Tonsättares Internationella Musikbyrå (STIM)
Swedish link in an international system established to safeguard the financial rights of composers and lyricists under copyright law.
União Brasileira de Compositores
Private nonprofit organization active in the field of public performance rights of musical works, defending the copyrightable works of its members or of those which it administers and represents.
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