A mechanical license is the licensing of copyrighted musical compositions for the recording, distribution and agreed-upon amount per unit manufactured and sold. The Harry Fox Agency is one of the main mechanical license providers, working on behalf of the music copyright holder to license, collect and distribute royalties (see Resources).
A Performing Rights Organization (PRO) such as BMI, ASCAP and SESAC, acts on behalf of the music copyright holder. The main core of the organization is issuing licenses to perform the work in public. The organization also works to distribute the royalties owed to the copyright holder.
Setting your copyrighted music to time-stamped audio-visual images or film and video requires a synchronization license issued to the producer of the work. The license allows the producer to use your work in conjunction with his work.
This is the newest music copyright in the U.S. Copyright Laws. A record company issues an exclusive right or license on behalf of the copyright holder to authorize digital transmissions, such as Internet streaming of the copyrighted composition.
A print license authorizes the copyright owner's composition to sell in print form, such as sheet music or folio. Print licenses go to companies that manufacture and distribute printed music. The companies then pay a royalty to the copyright owner.
A foreign license happens when a foreign agent utilizes the mechanical, performance, synchronization and print license of the copyright owner's music composition in the foreign land and then pays a percentage of the royalties collected from their country to the copyright holder or music publisher.