copyright question: if i want to cut and mix music as a business will i need to get consent from the label?
405658
Yes you do. Its like taking portions of books, magazines, and other publications to compose an article of your own and selling it.
917958
staring with a few questions:\nAre your songs copyrighten?\nWhat Performing Rights Organization are you a member of?\nHow many genres do you work in?\nDo you specialize in a genre?\nHow large is your catalog?\n\nThese are key things to sort out when venturing into the world of music publishing. In a perfect world you'd find a manager a publisher and let the money start rolling in....unfortunatly getting a publshing deal these days is about as hard as get a record deal.\nBUT\nthe good thing is publishing deals with mainly with ownership and issuing the rights to use a song.\nFor that perspective you can copyright your songs, compile and organize your catalog and bamm, you're a publisher.\nTHE \nhard part comes in selling your songs to the movies.\nKnowing your market is key, know what your movie makers want, and actually having it...\nUnderstand that doing all types of genres doesnt mean a hill of beans to a music supervisor looking for a specfic song for his movie project.\nDoing the research, knowing the music desision makers are  and what they need is how you get a feel for the demand of your catalog in the market.\nTrade mags, tip-sheets, etc.. can help with this, but keep in mind these resources and contacts are valuable to independent artist  and companies and should not be abused. Some tip-sheets are not cheap and for some you even need to provide credentials to buy. If you are a member of a performing rights org., check their website, look for workshops, \nshowcases, events where panelist speak and answer questions, or events that give you a chance to meet people. At some point you have to put on your salesmen's hat. \nButs not impossible to get a song placed on your own...
705886
They are legal as long as you trade files you\nown copyrights and distribution rights.\nDistributing "commercial" music and videos is\nillegal.\nDistributing music you have composed yourself\nor your own interpretation of music that is in the\npublic domain (i.e., classical music) is legal.\n\nEven if Limewire or Bearshare are found to be\n"illegal" in the sense to been found cooperating\nwith people distributing illegally "commercial"\nmusic or videos, that wouldn't affect you if you\nwere not part of that infringement.\n\nDisclaimer: IANAL (I am not a lawyer).
1083589
that's a fancy way of saying that the music license will not allow the file to be burned to CD.\n\nNow, if you were to analog record the music with a program like Wavepad and then burn it to CD, i guess there would be no way to stop you...\n\nremoving DRM from music is illegal.  creating unprotected recorded copies IS perfectly legal (so long as you actually own the music legally).
1134443
Hi...\nHere's a link that will walk you through the process of copyrighting your music. \n\nhttp://www.copyright.gov/register/sound.html\n\nIt's not that expensive, but if these are the first songs you have written you may want to consider whether you want to invest the money into copywriting them. Unless you have someone wanting to record them immediately, you may want to keep writing until you think you have finally written a "hit" record. I would suggest having someone from the industry review your music to see if you actually want to spend money right now.\n\nIf they tell you that the songs aren't ready, don't take it as a dis... buckle down and write more songs. It takes most songwriters many attempts to get to a point to where their music is on a professional level.\n\nHope that helps.\n\nKeep on rockin' in the free world....\nDoc
83489
the answer will definitely depend on how long the artist is in the business.  Also, the advances are generally advanced against costs, so the recording costs are generally taken off the top before the splits.\n\nAs for the %ages, the artists consist of 3 pieces -- musicians/artists, writers and producers.  The actual split is going to depend on the experience of the producer and how much he/she brings to the table.  These 3 would be 1/3 each.  The manager gets a cut out of the artist/musicians share, the cuts vary based on their participation in non-tour management.  The label actually receives all of the money from the CD store or online service.  So it's really a question of how much is the label paying out -- it's typically 15 to 30% of the gross receipts (which are roughly 1/2 of the list price).\n\nsorry to add to your confusion but royalties are a very very difficult and sticky calculation sometimes because people in the music business arent the sharpest tacks in the box and contract language can be ambiguous.
386975
Dont know if youre US or OK but heres how it works in Britain.  \n\nWhoever Authors a song/logo etc owns the copywright and anyone wishing to use this must obtain permission. The problems comes in proving that you are the author of an original piece\n\nThe simplest way to do this is to send a copy of the recording/ logo etc to yourself getting a clearly dated postmark on it. Ideally sending it in some way that you have to sign for. DO NOT OPEN IT. \n\nHand the unopened Package to a Solictor or Deposit it with your bank, keeping hold of a dated receipt.\n\nIn the case of a future copyright dispute, this package can be opened in court and used as proof that you owned this property on the date deposited. \n\nThis is standard practice in UK you'll have to check out any legal differences if your from the States\n\nHope this is some use anyway.\nHappy recording
50963
Midi's can also be copyright protected. There are certain conditions and stuff to using Midi's from certain sites, so you should check those before you jump into it.\n\nIf it's a midi of your creation, then there's obviously no catch. But people could use it if there wasn't anything against it.
49293
Not to dis the previous responder, but they are mistaken. I'm a partner at a very respected independent publishing administration company and have been doing this for 14 years. There are separate copyright forms for the master and for the publishing. The former is a called an SR form and the latter is called a PA form. You can download the forms from the U.S. Copyright Office's website at http://www.copyright.gov/forms/. There are also instructions available on how to fill out the forms. ASCAP and BMI have nothing to do with copyright. They will get you paid for any so-called public performance (e.g., radio, tv, cable, elevator music). And many professionals look to these sites to find out who to contact about licensing a particular song. Also, if you're serious about writing and/or performing music, you'll want to affiliate with a performance rights organization, which is what ASCAP and BMI are called. When you affiliate, you'll need to give them information about some of your songs and you'll need to pick your top 5 choices for publishing company names. The reason you need to pick so many is that most of the really creative or punny names have already been taken. Your best bet is to use your full name in publishing company name. So if your name is Jane Beth Doe, call it Jane Raye Doe Music. This will probably be more likely to be available than Doe Raye Me Music. \n\nAnyway, to get to your question copyright in the publishing means the lyrics and the notes. This is what you use the PA form for. Copyright in the master means the actual recorded version of this music, which technically is different for every re-recording of the song. The copyright office material will say you don't have to actually copyright anything. That once you've recorded the song, or written out the lead sheet, it's automatically copyrighted. But that doesn't really do you any good if no one but you knows it's copyrighted. Also, you have no protection under the law unless it's copyrighted through the U.S. Copyright Office. So again, if you're going to be serious about this, spring for the 30 bucks and a CD-R and GET IT COPYRIGHTED!
457343
yeah, it's illegal...\nbut you would attach a song just like any other file.
808421
Although you can copyright via the net (or get the forms through sites like: http://www.copyright.gov/forms I believe it would be in your best interest to call the copyright office at: (202) 707-3000 and have Form “PA” (performing arts), sent directly to you. For years, some people have even believed that “mailing the song to yourself” is protection of some kind. This is NOT the case (nor has it ever been). You have stated the possibility that: “I believe that the act of just post your song here is proof of authership, but does it establish ownership and what of copyright.” This is not the case either. Who is to say that one didn’t steal the song and then “post” it before the original writer? \n\nYour best bet is to simply copyright the song in a legal fashion…therefore avoiding problems down the road. \n\nA “song” is an “asset” (just like a home or a vehicle), but it is referred to as an “intellectual asset”. Just as a “deed” is to a home or a “title” is to a car…the “copyright” establishes ownership to your “intellectual asset” (that being a song). There are no tricks nor ways around it. \n\nFurther, a “copyright” does not get you “money”, but merely establishes ownership. If and when your song is “published” and “sells”, you will receive money from the publisher (whether the publisher is you or some outside entity). \n\nIn the US, if you publish material that's not registered, you can be assessed a $500 (or is it $250) fine. I assume this would only come up if you tried to sue someone. \n\nIn the US, if you sue, you have to register to sue. If you don't register until after the violation, you aren't entitled to "statutory damages and attorneys' fees", only "actual damages".\n\nAll of the information you need can be found in ONE book (which is considered to be the “bible” of the recording industry. It is called: “This Business of Music” by Krasilovsky & Shemel and published by “Billboard Books”. You can find it here at: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index%3Dstripbooks%26field-keywords%3Dthis%20business%20of%20music%26results-process%3Ddefault%26dispatch%3Dsearch/ref%3Dpd%5Fsl%5Faw%5Ftops-1%5Fstripbooks%5F4345336%5F2/102-1151058-1207346 or at any major bookstore. \n\nThis book includes “all” possible information regarding the record industry (contracts and all) in great detail. This book is not a: “how to” but rather a: “what is”. I seriously recommend this specific book. It may be a bit difficult to understand at first, but it DOES encompass “all”. \n\nI hope that answers some of your questions.
495649
nope you won't get sued for that. But that depends upon the depth of how you'll gonna use it. Actually i am a singer/songwriter myself and have lots of my stuff copyrighted already. As far as i know, if you will use our stuff commercially or for personal gain, you need to recognize the composer AND pay their royalties. Just be careful though. It would be best to contact the maker of those animations and talk with them on how to go about the issue. :-)
679953
This is typically called licensing. Since the Yahoo! TOS has a strict policy against posting commercial sites, I'm not able to provide links. However, just do an online search for "music licensing."\n\nI posted a couple sites that will help you with this too.\n\nHope that helps!
1116642
you don't, that's illegal if you are not the owner of the music. If you are, the law allows you to make copies for personal use. Try searching the internet, there are tons of software programs out there that you can download for free or you can buy that will do it.
556404
none, but you are breaking the law.\n\nif you want quality music for cheap (10-15 cents a song) without breaking the law, without downloading fake songs, and without risking viruses, go to www.allofmp3.com
311786
will instead of looking for the violation, there are a few places you can look specifically for CC licensed music:\n\nThe Creative Commons site itself has some good links, but most of the sites they link to are mainly electronica and you’ll find lots of dead ends. \nCC Mixer is a much better bet for CC licensed music. There is some great stuff in here and you can spend quite a bit of time exploring and listening. \nThe Music Lovers Union. Here you can find some pod casts that are focused on bring you the best of (mostly) CC music.
201589
If you make an unlicensed copy of a copyrighted work, be it music, video or whatever, you can be in violation of copyright law.\nIt doesn't matter how you make that copy, whether you download it, file-share it, or simply rip a copy of your friend's CD.\nSome sources, for which you pay, include a license fee, a portion of which goes to the copyright holder, so that they get paid for their work...  this makes it a licensed copy, and complies with the rules, so everyone is happy.\n\nCopyright regulations are usually enforced by the copyright holder (or their attorneys), not the government...  in practice, if you are simply ripping a single copy of a CD for your own amusement, they are not going to waste the time and money in tracking you down and taking you to court.\nIf, however, you make copies of their work available online, and hundreds or thousand of copies are being made, then they will take action... especially if somebody else is making money out of it.\n\nThere is a common belief that "If it's on the Internet it's public property"..  it's not, unless the copyright holder has declared it to be "pubic domain" material.  The same is true for pictures that appear on websites.   They're not there to be copied and re-used, although this happens all the time.\n\nThe regulations are not unreasonable... artists make their living from publication revenue...  and you are, effectively, stealing their work by making an unlicensed copy.  If you like their work enough to copy it, isn't it better to keep them in business, so they can do more and nbetter, in the future?