How to research a song for possible licensing?

[Wayne Keyser]

I understand it’s pretty simple these days – I know videomakers who just go online to the Harry Fox Agency https://www.harryfox.com/index.jsp and click for the appropriate license. That assumes, of course, that you understand what license you need in your case.

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There is no “way to peace.” Peace is the way.

[Allen Zagel]

Hi Wayne

Thanks much. My brain was dead but now I remember hearing about this agency a long time ago.

I appreciate your help
Allen

[John Davidson]

https://www.ascap.com/

Maybe you’ll be lucky and a specific song has a single copyright holder. Usually there are 2 or 3, but that’s where I’d start.

John Davidson | President / Creative Director | Magic Feather Inc.

[Steve Kownacki]

Similar thread 2 years ago (jumps to my response, scroll up for full read)
https://forums.creativecow.net/thread/12/856667#856679

I have not used this person, but an alternative to Harry Fox
Cheryl Cooper, 4C Permissions in Tuscon. https://www.4cpermissions.com/

Steve

[Allen Zagel]

Hi Steve

Thanks much for the info. Interesting thread. They sure don’t make it easy for us do they? 😉

Allen

[Allen Zagel]

Greetings all

WOW! I did it! found the publisher and song owner and got both my Sync and Mechanical license. For cheap-cheap, I’m so surprised those people were so helpful and nice albeit it took some time.

Following your advice above I contacted Harry Fox Agency. I got an email that I should search BMI because they didn’t offer Sync Licensing anymore.

Found my Song and publisher’s info on BMI. Contacted the publisher via email and explained who I was and what I wanted to do. After 2 or 3 emails, they offered me the sync license for $1 per DVD. But then informed me I needed a mechanical license for the master (hope I worded it right). He then explained to me that if I was going to use the original song I needed a license to use the singer’s voice and music from the copyright owner.

Okay no problem. BMI listed the owner as Rounder Records. Fired off an on-site contact form but no response. After a few days I searched Rounder Records, because there was no contact info on their website. Found out that Rounder was sold to Concord Music Group. Went there and they had a Licensing form to fill out with instruction on who to email or fax it to.

A week goes by and no response. So fired another email off to a different fellow listed. No response ha ha. Finally Googling Concord Music contact; again because there was no phone number on their website. Found a number, called and finally talked to a person in licensing. Told her my story and she wanted a copy of my original email as well as the email offering the sync license. She then said she’d contact her counterpart at Rounder.

2 days later I had my Mechanical license on MFN basis. I was so surprised. but it all worked out and thanks to this forum.

I never did this before because prior to this all my music came from Digital Juice or Sonic Fire Pro or some buy-out CDs.

Just thought you’d like to know the outcome of my original question.

Regards
Allen

ASX Media Group, Inc.
http://www.asxvideo.com
http://www.vomeo.com/az
MBP, iMac, Mac Pro
Final Cut Studio 2

[Allen Zagel]

Greetings all

WOW! I did it! found the publisher and song owner and got both my Sync and Mechanical license. For cheap-cheap, I’m so surprised those people were so helpful and nice albeit it took some time.

Following your advice above I contacted Harry Fox Agency. I got an email that I should search BMI because they didn’t offer Sync Licensing anymore.

Found my Song and publisher’s info on BMI. Contacted the publisher via email and explained who I was and what I wanted to do. After 2 or 3 emails, they offered me the sync license for $1 per DVD. But then informed me I needed a mechanical license for the master (hope I worded it right). He then explained to me that if I was going to use the original song I needed a license to use the singer’s voice and music from the copyright owner.

Okay no problem. BMI listed the owner as Rounder Records. Fired off an on-site contact form but no response. After a few days I searched Rounder Records, because there was no contact info on their website. Found out that Rounder was sold to Concord Music Group. Went there and they had a Licensing form to fill out with instruction on who to email or fax it to.

A week goes by and no response. So fired another email off to a different fellow listed. No response ha ha. Finally Googling Concord Music contact; again because there was no phone number on their website. Found a number, called and finally talked to a person in licensing. Told her my story and she wanted a copy of my original email as well as the email offering the sync license. She then said she’d contact her counterpart at Rounder.

2 days later I had my Mechanical license on MFN basis. I was so surprised. but it all worked out and thanks to this forum.

I never did this before because prior to this all my music came from Digital Juice or Sonic Fire Pro or some buy-out CDs.

Just thought you’d like to know the outcome of my original question.

Regards
Allen

ASX Media Group, Inc.
http://www.asxvideo.com
http://www.vomeo.com/az
MBP, iMac, Mac Pro
Final Cut Studio 2

[John Davidson]

Congrats! Now you could do the same research for someone else for a fee!

BTW, I think we deserve to know what song you got :).

John Davidson | President / Creative Director | Magic Feather Inc.

[Allen Zagel]

hehehehehe. I’m doing a promotional video (DVD) for a live steam club. (miniature railroad. 1½” scale trains. The song is one by Utah Phillips called “Daddy What’s a Train”.

Allen

ASX Media Group, Inc.
http://www.asxvideo.com
http://www.vomeo.com/az
MBP, iMac, Mac Pro
Final Cut Studio 2