[The Saxist]

So, one of the Big-Wigs in the home office gets a wild hair to have a company wide Talent Contest. I work for a global IT firm you never heard of, but you've heard of some of our clients (Disney/ABC, Nike, etc.). Out of 40,000 workers, a little over 200 respond. "Send in a video to the web site and we'll pick 10 to come to a big meeting and play before a panel of judges." I cut out one tune from a job 3 years ago and send it in. And durn if they didn't fall for it.
Now here's my dilemma; the tune I sent in was "Same Ole Love". I did a backing track based on Kirk Whalem's version of the Anita Baker hit (that someone else wrote, I believe). When I went back and read the contest rules, they were all into making sure that the rights for the song have been cleared, cuz they will use video of the contest for marketing purposes.

Should I go to the trouble of clearing rights? Where do I start? Any idea what it'll cost? :? I'm already getting a prize, but wanna pocket as much as possible. I do have a couple originals I could do, but they kinda want to see the original performance.

 

[wersax]

I believe you need to call the Harry Fox agency, (Google it), and the fees aren't that bad. However, if your company wants to use your video, shouldn't they be paying?!?!?!
PS: here's the Fox website: http://www.harryfox.com/index.jsp

 

[The Saxist]

Looks like ASCAP...

handles public performance. Harry Fox is for permission to use copyrighted tunes on CD/Tape. Here is an interesting clip from the ASCAP web site FAQ:

5. Aren't musicians, entertainers and DJ's responsible for obtaining permission for music they perform?

Some people mistakenly assume that musicians and entertainers must obtain licenses to perform copyrighted music or that businesses where music is performed can shift their responsibility to musicians or entertainers. The law says all who participate in, or are responsible for, performances of music are legally responsible. Since it is the business owner who obtains the ultimate benefit from the performance, it is the business owner who obtains the license. Music license fees are one of the many costs of doing business.

I might be in the clear.

 

[wersax]

Well, yeah, for your recorded performance for the audition, of course you owe no $ for fees. If you win and they select your recording of to use for their marketing purposes, then they may need to pay for the use of the song, but I don't know if a video recording of the performance of a tune comes under Harry Fox's thing or not, but it seems like it would........daryl

 

[The Saxist]

It's All Good!!!

Just got an email back from corporate. I showed 'em the ASCAP catalog entry for the tune and they said since it's ASCAP, we're covered.

"Three hundred sixty five days of the year!"

 

[Ferret]

Just got an email back from corporate. I showed 'em the ASCAP catalog entry for the tune and they said since it's ASCAP, we're covered.

"Three hundred sixty five days of the year!"

Grats on being selected and not having to worry about copyright!