You will negotiate this fee based on your film budget, the amount of music required, and the film composer's experience in the industry. ASCAP works with film composers and composer agents at every level of experience and can help you find a composer appropriate for your film at your budget.Ī: You will be paying a composer an up front fee for writing and recording the music for your film. You can hire a composer to write this music for you. Q: How Do I Find A Composer To Write Original Music For My Film?Ī: Music that is composed specifically for a film, as opposed to pre-recorded music placed in a film, is the film score.
If your rights are not cleared, the distributor is looking at an unknown expense tied to your film, and this can be a deterrent in a distributor's interest in acquiring an independent film. Clearing the rights and having step deals in place will also help you in the event that a distributor is interested in buying your film.
Considering that you will work more and more with publishing companies and record labels as your career moves forward, not clearing the rights in advance is not a very professional way of starting your relationships with them. Copyright Law provides that you can be sued by a music publisher and/or record label, for using their property without their consent. Q: What Are The Consequences Of Screening The Film Without Securing Music Rights?Ī: U.S.
Q: Can I Use These Songs On My Soundtrack Album?Ī: If you intend to use these songs on a soundtrack album, you will need to negotiate additional soundtrack rights with the publisher and record label as you negotiate the synch and master use rights for your film.Ī: License fees are determined based on various factors, including how the music will be used, the duration and number of times the music will be used and where the film will be performed. You will be provided with a contact at the record label's Business Affairs Department. Alternatively, you can get contact information for record labels by calling ASCAP's Film/TV Department. You clear this right with the record label who owns the specific recording you would like to use see the liner notes of the recording to find out which company this is. Master Use License: This is the right to reproduce a specific recording of a song in your film.You can find out who the publisher is by using ASCAP's Clearance Express (ACE) at Songs that are not represented by ASCAP might be found at HFA ( You will be provided with a contact at the publisher's Business Affairs or Licensing Department. It must be obtained from the copyright owner of the music, which is usually the publisher. Synchronization License: This is the right to synchronize a song or a piece of music with your visual image.Q: What Licenses Must I Get To Use A Song In My Film?Ī: If you are using a pre-recorded song or another pre-recorded piece of music in your film, there are two rights you need to clear that is to say, you need to get two different licenses to use the music.
Frequently Asked Questions For Student and Independent Filmmakers