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Question about songs being used in films

U

Utopia

Hey guys,

I really want to use the songs "Just Dance" by Lady Gaga and "Tik Tok" by Ke$ha in my upcoming documentary about the reproduction of lemmings.

How do I go about it? Is it legal to use them? These things called "publication rights" mean that I have the right to publish the song in my documentary, right?

Help me!




(You don't have to answer. I'm trying to get wheatgrinder to buy a new keyboard :lol:)
 
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Talk with an entertainment attorney and then pull out your checkbook. Top name artists command five and six figures plus royalties.

Check around for "sound alike" artists - they will happily let you use their original songs for just a credit. I've done a fair amount of work as a music supervisor and there are some amazing bands and solo artists out there looking for exposure.
 
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Alcove Audio said:
Talk with an entertainment attorney and then pull out your checkbook. Top name artists command five and six figures plus royalties.

Check around for "sound alike" artists - they will happily let you use their original songs for just a credit. I've done a fair amount of work as a music supervisor and there are some amazing bands and solo artists out there looking for exposure.
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Alcove pretty much nails it.

Just to give you an idea, someone mentioned on one of the Late Night shows (Conan?), on his last night he played 30 seconds of a rolling stones song on the air-supposedly cost NBC 2 million for that 30 seconds.

I am playing with the idea of a "soundalike" for a possible short I want to do-I want something that sounds like "Blue" by Eiffel 65- though there's no way I'll be able to afford the royalties....see who can "mimic" that sound(not even the song-something sounding like it)
 
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Before completely dismissing the idea, your other option is to put a licensing request to the rights holders. The more info you can provide on the project the better. Some publishers and labels will be sympathetic and deal with individual requests on a case-by-case basis - if they feel the project has merit!

The professionalism of your approach, the amount of detail etc can make a massive difference. I've worked on a few projects where we've managed to secure permission to use tracks on VERY limited budgets. If you're not sure HOW to approach them, contact a music supervisor that is used to working on indie productions and can do the work for you.

In the end, how much effort you put in (and how much you spend on it) depends on how important that piece of music is to your show/film/documentary etc.
 
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"Sound alikes" can be a lot of fun. For those of you who weren't around, back in the late 70's Eric Idle and Neil Innes (of Monty Python fame) put together a mocumentary of "The Rutles" - also known as the Pre-Fab Four - a spoof on the Beatles.

The music is absolutely spot-on Beatles; every song has at least 10 Beatles "cliches" - from the styles, to the 'licks', to the sounds, to the vocal performances, to the production, to the mix. In the song "Hold My Hand" we counted over 30 distinct Beatles references. It takes a lot of attention to detail to accomplish, but the results can be amazing; and in this case absolutely hysterical if you are a Beatles fan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AGPuwGnYjm4&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AGPuwGnYjm4&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ePaHG6g7uFw&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ePaHG6g7uFw&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

You can check out a lot more on YouTube.


Then of course is one of my favorites - Dread Zeppelin. Dread Zeppelin performs Led Zeppelin songs to a reggae beat with an Elvis impersonator as the lead singer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/16LI4TUucW4&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/16LI4TUucW4&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>


Anyway, I needed a song for a short about two years ago in the style of Aimee Mann. I eventually found a group called "Layne". The song we (myself, director, producer) chose wasn't exactly Aimee Mann, but the lyrics and style fit the scene perfectly and was the perfect finishing touch.
 
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Just cold-call the lable and tell them what you are trying to do. The receptionist will have you talking with the person of power in no time. Pitch what you wanna do and negotiate the best price you can.
 
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Disclaimer: This thread was a joke about the amount of people who post questions about music rights to make wheatgrinder laugh with a mouthful of coke and ruin his keyboard. But, I think the answers are great and should be archived somehow. I've created a monster. H.Z. got the joke. Wheat hasn't even seen this thread. I apologize.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
 
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ROC said:
Disclaimer: This thread was a joke about the amount of people who post questions about music rights to make wheatgrinder laugh with a mouthful of coke and ruin his keyboard. But, I think the answers are great and should be archived somehow. I've created a monster. H.Z. got the joke. Wheat hasn't even seen this thread. I apologize.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
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I'm still waiting for Wheatgrinder to comment on my (somewhat earnest) discussion about music copyright and entitlement....I just KNOW he wants to comment on that.....


BTW, consider me a lemming...as I took it as legit, and only NOW saw the small print....still, there have been a NUMBER of threads on this subject lately....
 
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Yeah and all the answers were great which is why I didn't really want to say anything, but then I don't want people thinking I like Lady Gaga, Ke$ha and the reproduction of lemmings.
 
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Weeeell, I fell for it. But to my credit I am pretty full on pineapple upside down cake soooo.

I was enjoying and thoroughly engrossed in the discussion the OP provoked, and then it was like a slap in the face, hearing that it was all a fabrication. :( But it is better that you said something, because I was respecting you less for liking those artists. Lemmings are ok, though.

The road to heaven is paved with bad intentions.
 
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Dreadylocks said:
Weeeell, I fell for it. But to my credit I am pretty full on pineapple upside down cake soooo.

I was enjoying and thoroughly engrossed in the discussion the OP provoked, and then it was like a slap in the face, hearing that it was all a fabrication. :( But it is better that you said something, because I was respecting you less for liking those artists. Lemmings are ok, though.

The road to heaven is paved with bad intentions.
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You respect me?

Who wouldn't like an artist who teaches our next generation's women how to brush their teeth with Jack Daniels? That is a moral lesson we all must learn to be better people.

But don't slap yourself in the face. The discussion is still the discussion and which is why I said that it should still be archived as if it was real :)
 
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Publishers are from Mars; Indie filmmakers are from earth. I once inquired about using a flash-in-the-pan 80's band (Beau Nasty) song for an indie film. As I recall I think the publisher wanted like 2 thousand dollars just to use the song in the movie in festivals only and for a very limited time. Ridiculous. You don't get paid anything for festivals, plus why would I subject myself to having to re-edit and re-master the sound after the festival was done?
 
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wheatgrinder said:
I haven't had the time to read the whole thread ;) But I think the best option is to go with musics original alternative.
silence.

Also, with so many AWESOME Guitar Hero and RockBand players around, how hard can it be to make a kick but song? And when you need something more Caledonian in feeling go with ..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euQ7BEPjBj4
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#1: I hope you are being facetious about guitar hero players....

#2: That video was hilarious. But the best part was the description: "Ewe'll love it!" :lol:
 
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