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finding instrumental popular music
I know this isn’t specific to FCP, but regard we are all editors and part of our job often entails finding music for our work. One of my clients is a church and they have a special blanket license that lets them use almost ANY song for use during an event. But this only covers live events at the church, like a sunday morning service.
I’m looking for a place to find instrumental versions of popular music for use in my videos. For example, on MTV cribs, they take samples from popular rock and hip-hop music. Where do they get that music?
-Trevor Ward
Red Eye Film Company -
7 Replies
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Well, I don’t know for sure, but when you’re MTV it’s probably a phone call away.
Back in the old days of singles in the gilded age of the pre-download era, you’d sometimes be able to find the instrumental on cassette then later CD. Also, in the hip-hop genre, you can find bootleg instrumentals from Europe. Some are ‘authorized’ some aren’t. Some are authorizedly unauthorized. Do you live in a big market? Check out your local record shop, and I don’t mean cd store. Record shop. Many Instrumentals are pressed up to vinyl for dj use. If you have a good one in your area, chances are you can walk-in, ask nicely and get someone to help you find what you’re looking for.
Or if you don’t mind doing some searching, turntable lab out of NY carries a lot of hip-hop. Their online presence is quite well organized, searchable and preview friendly. You can then order online.
There’s always stock music as well. Many more modern stock libraries have embraced hip hop culture and have volumes and volumes of instrumentals. Rock too. There’s also a recent Christian hip hop phenomenon. Might want to ask some kids at the church about that one as it’s a little beyond my reach.
Hope this points you in the right direction.
Jeremy
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[Trevor Ward] “One of my clients is a church and they have a special blanket license that lets them use almost ANY song for use during an event.”
I’m just highlighting that one line for emphasis.
Anybody else find that just a bit “interesting?”
I also direct your attention to this COW post-
https://forums.creativecow.net/readpost/30/858109
in Audio Pros forum.
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There’s a difference between being able to use a song during an event and using it in a video. . You need to obtain permission to use the song. Check out this link for more info:
https://www.signature-sound.com/11quest.html
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[Trevor Ward] “One of my clients is a church and they have a special blanket license that lets them use almost ANY song for use during an event. But this only covers live events at the church, like a sunday morning service.”
That’s just a standard blanket ASCAP and/or BMI license that allows them to use the music during live events.
[Trevor Ward] “I’m looking for a place to find instrumental versions of popular music for use in my videos. For example, on MTV cribs, they take samples from popular rock
and hip-hop music. Where do they get that music?”Those instrumental versions would still require you to pay the full license if they are an instrumental version of the exact song you want. On MTV they pay a ‘sync license’ that allows them to use any song in any way they want to. Those are extremely expensive.
Just to give you an idea, in 1999 we wanted to use the Herman’s Hermits song “I’m Into Something Good” for a local commercial, 3 month contract and using a local artist to record just the 30 seconds we needed of the song, not the original recording. $18,000 is what we were quoted. We had a local composer create something that had the same vibe, but the not that exact song instead.
As a footnote, 2 months later that song appeared, using the original recording, on a national Sears campaign.
A good music resource is Non-Stop Music. Great library and depending on the project, the licensing can be as low as $100/cut.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR Apple Color Training DVD available now!
Read my Blog!
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Similar to what Walter did, I have commissioned “sound-alikes” many times. It is much cheaper than the real thing, but you still walk a fine line of infringement. I have heard that if it makes you think right away of the original then you have crossed the line.
To answer your question, I have never seen a place that has versions of the originals you don’t have to pay big bucks to use.
One of my favorite libraries is Fresh Music, who I think BTW are about to fold, so there may be some bargains there.
Have a wonderful day.
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I’m going to assume he’s referring to a church CCLI license (ccli.com).
A church (or event) CCLI license permits the license holder to perform or project lyrics of any song in their library, and make a video or audio recording of the performance of the song…
But it doesn’t cover previously existing recordings, sorry.
So, perhaps you can have someone in the church record a cover of a song in the CCLI library, and use that in the video to project in their service or event — do you think that’d be covered?
Here’s what CCLI says they will and will not let you do…
https://www.ccli.com/usa/WhatWeOffer/WhatYouCanDo.aspx -
Thanks for everyone’s response. Interesting how a post to one question, brought out a different discussion. I wasn’t necessarily asking anyone to evaluate whether or not the church’s licensing is valid or not valid. This wasn’t really a legal question. It was just a question of where to find instrumental versions of popular songs. I got some good suggestions and I thank you for them.
We now return you to your program already in progress…
-trevor ward
http://www.redeyevideoproductions.com
orlando, fl
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