Copyrighted Music on Videos

[bhurdle]

So, I'm starting to see a LOT more videos produced with popular music. In the end they list the song and artist in the credits. Is this legit now? I'm seeing it all over the place.

Just wondering.

-BHurdle

[Flea77]

If they pay a licensing fee or secure permission, sure.

Allan

[BenE]

Originally Posted by Flea77

If they pay a licensing fee or secure permission, sure.

Allan

Very unlikely. The process or licensing is something most photographers do not even know about or even care about.

Personally, I use royalty free or buyout music. It is inexpensive, but you do not get top name artists.

[r_kasmir]

I just signed up with Animoto Pro so I wouldn't have to worry about it.

[BenE]

Originally Posted by r_kasmir

I just signed up with Animoto Pro so I wouldn't have to worry about it.

They provide you with royalty free music?

[tukaniray]

I use APM Music ... they are a royalty free music server. And have tons of music to choose from.

As a professional it's best to avoid the popular music and look for music off royalty free sites.

APM has great music by the way and many of the tunes from there have been heard on lots of commercials from the Diamonds are forever Hertz commercials to the Lexus commercials.

Check em out: APM MUSIC CLICK HERE

-Ray-

[r_kasmir]

That's the way I understand it. With the Pro account you can sale the slideshow and not worry about the music. They explain it better then I can.

[BenE]

Originally Posted by r_kasmir

That's the way I understand it. With the Pro account you can sale the slideshow and not worry about the music. They explain it better then I can.

I see now that it is not royalty free or buyout music, it is with the Pro version the licensing fee is included in what you pay them.

[brad]

Originally Posted by BenE

They provide you with royalty free music?

Yes, Animoto has a library of royalty free music built into the service.

[BenE]

Originally Posted by brad

Yes, Animoto has a library of royalty free music built into the service.

The music with Animoto is not really royalty free or buyout (see my post above). The licensing fee is included in the fee charged by Animoto, and it is only offered with the Pro plan. The Basic and Plus do not have licensing available.

Quote from Animoto:
Animoto Pro is loaded with over 1000 commercially licensed songs in 15 different genres.

Animoto - Product Pricing Plans

The other plans do have music libraries, but that is suppose to be for personal use only, and not commercial.

Animoto - Features

.................

Buyout, or what is often called royalty free music differs in that it is sold for use for a one time charge.

Buyout music is a type of production music that can be purchased for a flat, one time charge. There are no ongoing fees or royalties which have to be paid to the seller of the music. Buyout music is a type of royalty free music and is used with music-related production projects.


I am not sure how Animoto works as far as licensing, but the fee for the Pro plan is $39 per month, and the licensing fee is included. Since I do not have any plans, I am not sure what they allow as far as using the music on more than one video or not. And I do not know if you can legally download music from their library and use it for other purposes.

The downside to buyout music is that, the artists are not well known. The upside to paying a licensing fee is that well known artists are available.

Buyout music can include: Mechanical, Synchronization, and
Public Performance Rights .

Paying a licensing fee, gives the person the right to use the music on such venues as DVDs, websites, etc, but does not include the rights mentioned above.

[brad]

Very true.. but since that's the only reason I want to use it, I don't care. :P

[RickD]

Here is another alternative:

https://creativecommons.org/legalmusicforvideos

I know from past experiences that labels/artists are not very interested in responding to the small productions unless you are making money. In some instances they have other agencies acting like brokers who will handle these small jobs. So the good news is there are other artists just trying to get their name into the business that will allow you to use their music without sync fees (licensing). Such as the link above.

[brad]

Cool link, Rick! Thanks for sharing.

[Tom]

Popular Music Library For Photographers And Videographers - Songfreedom.com

I haven't used it, but have heard from others that this is a good source to license music. BUT, you have to keep paying or take it off.

[BenE]

Originally Posted by Thomas Campbell

Popular Music Library For Photographers And Videographers - Songfreedom.com

I haven't used it, but have heard from others that this is a good source to license music. BUT, you have to keep paying or take it off.

That is correct, and that is the reason I prefer buyout music.

I notice at Songfreedom the cost ranges from $40 to$60 per year.
For the $40 per month fee ($480 per year), you get:
Use up to 30 songs per year. License for 5 DVD copies per song per year. Includes streaming (online usage) rights.

That is a lot to pay in my opinion.

With buyout music, I have to pay only one fee, and that can be as little as $10 per tune. For that amount I have the right to use it in many ways, as much as I wish. There is no monthly fee.

In my case, I use music on every CD or DVD, for every customer. I use it on You Tube (now that I have discovered it), and the small fee I pay , gives me all the rights needed to reproduce, sync, and play the music.

The OP was about using copyrighted music, and unfortunately there are too many people, including photographers, who are using copyrighted music, with paying any fee.

There is only a very slim chance that they will get caught, but if they do the penalty can be stiff. Besides, keeping it legal is the right thing to do.