Michael Murphy's Blog - Posts Tagged "synchronization-rights"
How to obtain lyric rights for your work
If you're considering using song lyrics in your novel, I hope my experience might help sort through the maze and complexity involved. I posted this blog to help you obtain permission to use copyrighted material. I obtained permission to use lyrics from four songs in my return to Woodstock novel, Goodbye, Emily. I also obtained permission twice before with my previously published novels, Try and Catch the Wind and Ramblin' Man.
Before seeking licensing rights to use the material, make sure you’ve identified the actual title, the writer, and the recording artist. Permission is usually granted by the publisher. If you don't know the publisher, there are two general sources where you're likely to obtain the information, ASCAP, www.ascap.com and BMI, www.bmi.com. Both have websites with database searches where the publisher can be found by searching the title, writer, or recording artist.
Once you identify the publisher, contact them via email or in some cases by completing an online form. The publisher will ask several questions, how many books will be printed or sold, the name of the novel, author, publisher and the territory where the book will be sold. You'll probably be asked to provide copies of pages where the lyric will appear.
Cost of obtaining permission is based on the information you provide, but primarily on how much of the song lyric will be used and the number of books sold.
Permission to use music for a book trailer, that's called synchronization rights. That is a separate but similar process
Whether you use a song lyric in your novel is an artistic decision. If you choose to go ahead, I hope this information has been helpful.
Michael Murphy
Good-bye, Emily
They met at Woodstock, and their love lasted a lifetime. Heartbroken but determined, he calls on his two best friends to help him return to where it all began. One last roadtrip. One last chance to say Good-bye, Emily.
http://www.koehlerbooks.com/2012/05/k....
Before seeking licensing rights to use the material, make sure you’ve identified the actual title, the writer, and the recording artist. Permission is usually granted by the publisher. If you don't know the publisher, there are two general sources where you're likely to obtain the information, ASCAP, www.ascap.com and BMI, www.bmi.com. Both have websites with database searches where the publisher can be found by searching the title, writer, or recording artist.
Once you identify the publisher, contact them via email or in some cases by completing an online form. The publisher will ask several questions, how many books will be printed or sold, the name of the novel, author, publisher and the territory where the book will be sold. You'll probably be asked to provide copies of pages where the lyric will appear.
Cost of obtaining permission is based on the information you provide, but primarily on how much of the song lyric will be used and the number of books sold.
Permission to use music for a book trailer, that's called synchronization rights. That is a separate but similar process
Whether you use a song lyric in your novel is an artistic decision. If you choose to go ahead, I hope this information has been helpful.
Michael Murphy
Good-bye, Emily
They met at Woodstock, and their love lasted a lifetime. Heartbroken but determined, he calls on his two best friends to help him return to where it all began. One last roadtrip. One last chance to say Good-bye, Emily.
http://www.koehlerbooks.com/2012/05/k....
