Wednesday, May 23, 2007

do I need a licence to use music for my videos?

Q: I started a company that will make DVD slideshows and videos for families. I will use music on the DVDs that I have bought (thru Itunes or the actual album). Do I need a license to use these?

A: Yes. You may have purchased a CD or a download, but that is just for your personal listening pleasure. In order to use any song or music for DVD slideshows or videos, you need to obtain a licence.

Song copyrights are held by music publishers and/or artists, while sound recordings (the masters) are controlled by record companies and/or artists.

A synch license pays copyright owners when their music is used in combination with visual images such as music in films, TV, videos, computer programs, etc. The producer of the audiovisual production usually requests a synchronization license from the song publisher. These rights are administered and licensed by the publisher who accounts directly to the writer.

I suggest you contact NMPA and ask them to assist you in locating the person(s) you need to contact to licence each song you intend to use.
http://www.nmpa.org

The other option is to look for and use royalty-free music.

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