How to Get Permission to Use Recorded Music
Securing permission to use copyright-protected recorded work allows users to avoid potential fines and lawsuits. There are two forms of music ownership: song rights and performance rights. Songs themselves are typically owned by songwriters, who trust music publishers to oversee the rights. Specific performances, like those you'd find on an album, are owned by record companies. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), Broadcast Music Industries (BMI) and the Society of European Stage Authors & Composers (SESAC) are the three largest performers rights organizations. Combined, they represent all working songwriters and music publishers. Each can grant permission for the use of recorded works by the songwriters and music publishers they represent.
Instructions
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1
Prepare a detailed description of the manner in which the recording will be used.
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2
Contact BMI, ASCAP, and SESAC to determine which organization represents the artist, songwriter, or publisher attributed to the recording, and secure the publisher's contact information from the proper organization's database.
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3
Contact the appropriate publisher using the information secured through the performers rights organization.
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4
Complete the publisher's copyright release process, and describe how the recording will be used.
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5
Wait for the publisher to review the copyright request. Based on the intended use, permission will be either granted or denied.