How do I find the owner of a songs copyright?
I live in the UK. My friend is a singer and would like to cover the song ‘Ride On’ by Christie Moore for a demo CD and possibly to sell on the web. Having done a little bit of googling we thought the best way to find the copyright holder was to e-mail the artist’s manager (as listed under the UK & Europe inquiries on his website). It’s been over two months and she has not heard back, so which direction do you suggest we head now?
Wiki states his last two records as being released by Colombia, however he is not listed on their website.
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Contacting ASCAP would be a place to start, in the U.S. at least.
@lillycoyote I think ASCAP refers to Harry Fox for RECORDING rights.
ASCAP is but one performance rights company. BMI is another. You need to figure out which one the artist uses and contact them. The performance rights company should be listed on any CD from the artist.
Again, ASCAP and BMI are performance focused, not recording focused. If you wnat rights to record it’s Harry Fox.
An excerpt from http://dmbr.crucial-systems.com/Harry_Fox_Agency
“HFA licenses the mechanical right, whereas ASCAP, BMI and SESAC license the performance rights. The mechanical right is separate and apart from the performing right. A publisher assigns his public performance rights to one of these societies. HFA represents ASCAP, BMI and SESAC publishers, licensing the right to record their works. ”
Well, the OP was not at all specific about why he or she was interested in “song” copyrights so I gave the OP a place to start. The rights to use a song can vary tremendously depending on how and under what circumstances it it used, whether you want just the rights to the song or whether you want the rights to a particular performance or recording of the song. I just suggested ASCAP as a place to start. I should have asked and clarified what the OP wanted the rights for. Or actually read the details. I don’t know what the U.K. laws are and what the person intends to do with the “cover song.”
I have checked both of those databases and neither list the song, sadly.
Have you tried posting to the Christie Moore site?
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