Using songs in your writing

[Neil]

I'm a big music fan, and often put music references into my writing. I rather like the idea that my stories have a soundtrack, and I find it helps personalise my characters. Anyone else do this?

[David]

I've done it quite extensively in my latest, Neil. the songs are also integral to the plot. And yes, it does feel like a soundtrack to me.

[Jim]

I've produced game scenarios which were based on soundtracks

[Patti (baconater)]

Ooo!

Yes, David did it with his latest!

Was gonna say go ahead and link to it but I'm gonna. :) VOID

Brilliant addition to the narrative.

[Patti (baconater)]

Jim wrote: "I've produced game scenarios which were based on soundtracks"

Oh?

[Neil]

Mine aren't integral to the plot (mostly). It's interesting to have chapters who like different music to me, however that does produce problems in research. I rather like the idea of using incorrect pop trivia, like the snippets in American Psycho, Patrick Bateman spouts a load of trivia, mostly wrong.

[Jim]

Patti (baconater) wrote: "Jim wrote: "I've produced game scenarios which were based on soundtracks"

Oh?"

Did a brilliant one based on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Kobd...
A real work of genius, the editor was well made up, he even found figure manufacturer who had appropriate toys and who would provide pictures of painted figures AND pay for advertising.
It was SF, very cleverly done.
Between it being printed and appearing in the shops, the Dunblane school massacre happened

[David]

Patti (baconater) wrote: "Ooo!

Yes, David did it with his latest!

Was gonna say go ahead and link to it but I'm gonna. :) VOID

Brilliant addition to the narrative."

Thanks, Patti, glad you feel it adding something.

[Belle]

I write in the 1860s time period and have added several time appropriate songs with the lyrics. Of course you have to sing them in your head unless you want to youtube them.

[Neil]

I'd be doing a lot of googling for songs from the 1860s. Some music hall ones I may know.

[Tim]

Don't forget, if you're publishing a book containing commercial song lyrics, you need to get permissions from the copyright holder, and that can be very expensive (and even more expensive if you don't).

Just saying' ;)

[Patti (baconater)]

I think Neil is okay. 1860s.

Edward wasn't into rap.

[David]

Tim wrote: "Don't forget, if you're publishing a book containing commercial song lyrics, you need to get permissions from the copyright holder, and that can be very expensive (and even more expensive if you do..."

Good point, Tim. A couple of years back I didn't know this. I use only the song title plus a hint towards the tone of the lyrics.

[Will]

Tim has said what I was going to say. Song lyrics are very tricky to use because of copyright. Even a small fragment can get you into trouble.

I generally steer well clear.

[Patti (baconater)]

Happy birthday is safe to use now, isn't it?

[Tim]

Patti (baconater) wrote: "Happy birthday is safe to use now, isn't it?"

Thanks to a court ruling last year. http://www.theguardian.com/business/2...

Interestingly, it would have become copyright-free in the EU at the end of this year, regardless of the ruling.

[J.A.]

I wrote my whole series to Tori Amos. She wasn't referenced at all but I feel that I should be giving her a cut of the sales :) Every scene had a Tori song in there playing in the background in my head. It's strange to think that my readers will read my books to their own soundtrack.

[Pam]

Will wrote: "Tim has said what I was going to say. Song lyrics are very tricky to use because of copyright. Even a small fragment can get you into trouble.

I generally steer well clear."

Yes, some copyrights are renewed aren't they, beyond the statutory period?

[Will]

As an example of the costs involved, an independant TV producer I know used a fifteen second segment of 'Imagine' in a program for S4C. The permission cost him £ 3000.

There's a lot of rubbish spouted around about 'fair use' online. It's a myth when the copyright holder goes to Court.

[Tim]

Fair use (or fair dealing as it is in the UK) doesn't apply to quoting songs in a novel. And anyway, songs are short: a single line can easily be more than 10%.