What are some alternatives, if I can't get the license for a song I want to use in my 3D short?

Asked by windex (2932

) April 9th, 2011

The 3D animated short will be less than 10 minutes. I wanted to use about 15 seconds of a 20 year old song, that’s owned by Universal Music, during the ending credits.

I’m not planning to submit it to any festivals or make any money from it. It’s a personal project done with zero budget, only my time.

Does anyone have any experience with music licensing? And know if they’ll ask for a ton of money from a starving artist?

Should I “track down” the actual signer/song writer in the least creepy way possible, and show him the short on a laptop and get the ok from him? or will that not even matter since he doesn’t really own the rights to it.

How about if I hire someone to do a cover of the song, will this be legal? How are artists able to do covers and sell it?

Thank you so much for your time.

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5 Answers

To legally use it you need to get permission, and possibly pay royalties, if the artist asks for any. Cover or not.

If you have musically inclined friends, why not get them to do something made up with a similar tempo and key?

FluffyChicken (5516

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Contact Universal Music Publishing Group.

This page has the License info and contacts.

Tropical_Willie (31123

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There is a way around this.
Have friends play the music, but subtly change the lyrics to make it humorous. Parody is exempt from royalties or copyright infringement.

filmfann (52224

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If it’s for your own personal use I don’t think you have to worry. I have shot,edited and scored home videos using bought music from iTunes. Once in a while I watch them with friends and family.

mazingerz88 (28812

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There is not any legal way around it others performing it in their own interpretation of it.
An Artist protects their product. There are many organizations like ASCAP that are used for this.

Think about it this way:
Your personal project is awesome and fabulous beyond belief! It is seen now or in the future and is wanted to be used in some way in a major release or reference.
1) NO GO as you used something in it without getting proper rights.
2) You found a way to use the song you reference with no legal issues, and this other organization uses your work without credit or royalty to YOU.

blueiiznh (16698

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