7 Misconceptions About Licensing Music Legally Vs. Stealing

7 Misconceptions About Licensing Music Legally Vs. Stealing

Admit it, we have all done it. Whether you used Napster to download music illegally when you were in highschool, made a mixed tape for a friend, or put music behind your last Youtube video, none of us have paid for music properly in every instance. In most cases we know what is right and wrong but there are still many misconceptions about licensing music. In this article Matt Thompson of SongFreedom.com goes through 7 legal and moral misconceptions when it comes to using popular music.

1. Personal Use vs. Commercial Use - "As long as it's just for a single client for their "personal use" then it's not a commercial use of the song."

This is one we have heard a lot. Personal Use actually just covers the ability to listen to a song. Period. In fact, it really goes a step further and dictates that you can't play it in a commercial setting without a performance license, something you would traditionally get from ASCAP and BMI. No one has the legal right to do whatever they want with that song, just as just anyone can't do whatever they want with a photographer's images. If you want to use music in any sort of video then you need a synchronization license. While that's really the bottom line you just have to think about it logically. Is the music providing some benefit to your product? Is it in the background of your website to help create a certain feeling for visitors so they stay longer and are encouraged to buy from you? Or are you using music in a video that you're either selling to the client are using as a "pull-through" for one of your packages? Then you are profiting from the use of someone else's work.

2. "If I have a license from ASCAP and BMI then I'm covered for using the music."

ASCAP and BMI are both great performance rights organizations but they do not provide synch licensing. If you want to play background music in your studio then they are the places to reach out to. They also provide rights for the music you hear in restaurants, funeral homes, and lots of other businesses. But...when it comes to pairing music with images on the background of a website, in a slideshow, or any type of video, then you need a synch license.

To get a synch license you need to get permission from the publishing rights owner(s) and the master rights owner(s). That's where the fun really starts. Publishers represent writers for the written music and labels represent artists for the actual recorded music. Many publishers have contracts in place dictating that the writers have to give final approval for each synch usage. This is sometimes complicated by songs having multiple writers that may or may not be represented by the same publishers. We have actually cleared songs that had 12 writers and 6 publishers. So by the time we got the ok from basically 18 people we were not quite done yet. Then you can move onto getting the master rights for the song and you'll often find that the label has to get final approval from the artists. So now you've gotten approval from 20 different people. Congrats on getting your license approved. But here's the bad news...it's going to cost a LOT. Since your request has to go through licensing and legal departments and then finally accounting departments, there's a lot of time and people involved in this approval process. Then think about how this is getting split 20 ways. What does all that mean? It means that you'd have to shell out at least $15,000 for one song to make it worth anyone's time. All of this is of course assuming that you have a way to contact everyone and are able to understand licensing terms when requesting a license. All that said, it's obvious why Songfreedom being able to license for $24.99/song is nothing short of amazing.

3. "Artists just want to get their music out there and the labels are just being greedy and are making things difficult."

While some artists are more liberal than others when it comes to what their music is used for, others are much pickier. Some artists may not believe in the institution of marriage or have some religious differences and do not want their music used for wedding videos or slideshows. The same may be true for writers of a song. As much as we would like to be able to license their music to our members we of course have to respect their decision and discretion as artists. This is a real example of something we have encountered where the label, publishers, and writers were all happy to get a particular band's songs on Songfreedom but it wasn't something the band wanted to license their music for.

On the flip side, sometimes an artist may have no issues with their music being used for a particular project but that doesn't mean you have necessarily gotten the writers' permission. If they are one in the same then you're a little better off. However, if they have signed with a publisher and produced the music on the label's dime and have an agreement in place with them, then you'll still need permission from the publisher and label to be legal.

4. "I can use whatever I want as long as I acknowledge the artist or other rights owners."

While it may seem this way sometimes because of what pops up on YouTube here and there this is not the case. Because of some agreements in place with YouTube and publishers for streaming rights from User Generated Content, some things may stay online for a bit once they are flagged but there is no telling what might happen for sure. YouTube's Content ID system may be set to do different things depending on what particular song is used. Then at the end of the day the labels never approved anything so you might as well expect a take down notice from them. Now that the actually license approval process has been outlined it of course wouldn't make sense for someone to just be able to throw up a few words and have something be legal. Many photographers have run into similar issues with their work being used without permission or payment even when credit was given.

5. "I'm really doing the artist and everyone else a favor by including their music in my video since it helps get their music out there."

This one is just hilarious sometimes. I have actually heard someone make this argument for a Black Eyed Peas song. Really? Yes, I'm sure The Peas and Universal music will be eternally grateful for you getting their music out their since no one could have possibly heard it before the same exact way you did - on the radio, Pandora, Spotify, iTunes, etc. They seem to be doing just fine. This argument could almost hold a little water if you're talking about a completely independent artist but again, most artists want to have the right to give permission (or not give permission) when it comes to their art and copyright law doesn't really bend because you feel that you are doing what is in their best interest.

6. "These labels have billions of dollars so they don't really need the money. And I've heard that the artist doesn't even get that big of a percentage so I really don't like the labels anyway."

Do labels have billions? Well, collectively. But should that really matter? Just because McDonald's is a billion dollar corporation it doesn't mean that I go in there demanding free cheeseburgers or demand to be able to get a bunch of them at a discounted price and then open up my own burger shop and sell them for a profit. Life doesn't work like that. The only difference is that one thing is a tangible product and the other is not. People seem to act differently sometimes when things are intangible.

As far as what labels pay their artists...that's between them and their artists. These artists are big boys and girls that made the decision to enter into an agreement. The reality? It's just like anything else and it comes down to the success of the artist. Parachute and Lady Gaga are both Universal artists. Does Lady Gaga have WAY more money than Parachute? Probably, but is that the label's fault? If one product sells better at Wal-Mart than another do people blame Wal-Mart? And Wal-Mart has really strong negotiating power and get products they distribute for pennies on the dollar so should we argue that they aren't paying their vendors well enough and just go in and take what we want? No, that doesn't make any sense. The bottom line is that it makes no difference who gets paid what via their agreements, it has no effect on copyright law or what the right thing to do is.

7. "Using music illegally is really just like speeding on the highway. It only matters if you get caught and they will only pull you over if you're going faster than everyone else (your videos are getting a ton of views)."

This is actually an ok analogy...to a degree. Admittedly, I've gone over the speed limit while driving and I have gotten a ticket here and there. But I was prepared to pay the fine for the crime I did. If the fine was $150,000 per ticket I definitely wouldn't speed, and I don't think anyone else would either. As far as some videos being more visible than others...maybe. However, there have been about 12 lawsuits in the last 9 months for photogs using unlicensed music and only a couple of them had any videos with any type of notoriety. It's the Internet, anyone can see anything you do at any time. Someone having to payout $150,000 (or more) is a horrible life changing things that hopefully no one else will experience.

Lee Morris's picture

Lee Morris is a professional photographer based in Charleston SC, and is the co-owner of Fstoppers.com

Log in or register to post comments
37 Comments

I once went to the trouble of asking an artist's manager for permission to use a short clip of a well known song on a website. She told me I need not have bothered since it was just a short clip and I wasn't actually selling anything. OK, it was a friend's wedding website, and was online for about a year, so I don't believe I was hurting anyone. I've used that same premise a couple of times since then, and sure hope no-one get's upset.

Thoughts?

Can you speak a little on "Fair Use"

Ok, you are right. So how do I go about getting all the proper licensing and paperwork for that song I am using on my slideshow?? A small business can't. If the record labels would spend half the effort making their music accessible as they do whining about it, they would be way better off. When Apple introduced a simple way to purchase music the way people wanted it (singles) people did! A lot. While the record labels were busy suing college kids for ripping off their music, Apple was busy figuring out how to make money.

 Can't your small business use royalty free music? There's tons of it available.

I love Tim McMorris' work. He's independent, and his music is great.

And I have. I use Animoto for some stuff to avoid licensing hassles, but I cannot use it for everything. And I do want to do what is right. I have not checked out songfreedom yet, but in the not so distant past that was not an option. 

Thanks, that is exactly what I am talking about. A simple way to license.

This is a great reference, thanks for sharing!

"However, there have been about 12 lawsuits in the last 9 months for photogs using unlicensed music and only a couple of them had any videos with any type of notoriety."

Names?  How did the cases turn out?

Well, a lot of things that you mention are dependent on national legislation and the way intangible items and cultural products are treated. Also there are great differences in subleties you seem to put together.

Let me give you an example.

In my country, music by law is considered an item of cultural inheritance and therefore limited unauthorized distribution is allowed. What does "limited" means? The law defines it as the "usual social surrounding". That is I can make without breaking the law nor violating the artist's rights a mix tape for my friends and family on the ground that I dont make money on that - I cannot though make thousands of copies, go out on the streets and give them for free :) The law says that this may result in reduced profits for the artists/labels and that is the reason that there is a specific tax and an authority that gathers this tax and distributes it to the artists. The tax is placed on all media (such as CDs, tapes, hard disks etc etc) and devices that can be used to make copies.

On the other hand, I find the whole non-discrimination between tangible and intangible objects quite annoying and purposely misleading. There are different qualities and uses between those two categories of products. One of the primary differences is how can such an item be reproduced both by the producer and the final owner and how it can be used.    

Don't see how this relates to photography.

Anyways. From what I've heard, performing and touring makes the most money for the bands/artists. Record labels get most of the cuts from the records. Then again, they do probably spend loads of money promoting the bands/artists and pay the recording process. But yeah, they're not really loosing money.

I think it (piracy) is a good thing. You discover loads of new bands that you start listening to, then might buy a few songs and go to a few gigs. There's some artists putting their songs/albums up on torrent sites to share it, and I think that's great. I wouldn't buy their whole record, if I've never heard them. 

Then there's streaming...

This is more about marketing yourself as a photographer.  If you shoot any sort of session like families, weddings, extreme sports, or ever desire to make a promo video for your business then this should concern you greatly.  And everyone here knows how much Fstoppers advocates photographers branching into the video market as well as maintaining their stills market.  

"Record labels get most of the cuts from the records." This is changing with the decline of physical record sales and 360 deals, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/360_deal .

Also there are plenty of recording artists/composers that are capable of producing outstanding work, but do not perform.

 Does BTS video count as something that would market or profit your business?

Yes

Of all that $$fine, media companies trying to impose on consumers.... how much of it goes to the artists ??

It just so happens that SongFreedom licenses music.  Hmmm..., how convenient.  Just another scare tactic to drive more business their way.  Just like automotive oil companies tell you to change your cars oil every 3000 miles.  You are perfectly fine at 7000-10000 miles.  But, business won't be as good if they tell you that.

 You're wrong. This is Copyright law, and its been around for years.

Actually, the oil filter for GM vehicles is only rated for 5000 miles. 

I understand all of the commercial usage laws, policies, etc.  I've a question though.  What do I have to do, in regards to this stuff, when I want to use such music in my own personal not-for-profit videos?  I don't whore my videos out, because I'm not an attention whore, but I'd like people to be able to enjoy the music that I wish to add to some of my vids I'd put on YouTube or Vimeo.  These would primarily be linked to computer modding worklogs that are non-sponsored, etc.  I'm extremely picky with my music, but could someone please tell me what I need to do for not-for-profit vids like that?  Thank you.

 He's talking about the obvious promotion of songfreedom's services, not the copyright law stuff.

Wow, I've never realized how hypocritical people can be. I bet if roles were reversed, all these people that think it's ok to "steal" others works would be crying outrage!!!

Any commercial use of anothers song without license is theft.... Period!!!

This guy puts the copy write laws in their place
http://www.ted.com/talks/rob_reid_the_8_billion_ipod.html

 Great link!

Really worth watching

I just wish Songfreedom.com would get better music. I feel like they aren't even listening to the music they have been adding lately. About 15% of their music is decent but I spend more time weeding out the crappy music then I do editing. If they would offer the quality of music that www.themusicbed.com has for the same $25 a song then they would have something. 

Thanks Nathan

Don't forget to support local talent. There are a lot of great musicians without record deals who would be willing to work out a usage agreement. Be sure to get it in writing though. 

Better analogy, using unlicensed music for comercial purposes is like having a band steal one of your pictures and use it as their album cover and sell t-shirts of it.

Stealing and copyright infringement are morally and legally two entirely separate things. When the title of the article doesn't even get it right, the credibility of the advice given in the rest of the article suffers. How about constructing an article that will elevate the knowledge of these essential issues for photographers, instead of putting out RIAA talking/media points?

It may be illegal but 90% of the videos I watch on this site use copyright music in the background.

It annoys me when I spend hours listening to terrible royalty free songs to find the one good one to use on my bts videos and other 'big name' photographers just stick the latest pop song in the background and seemingly get away with it.

This area of law seems so grey I could use it to white balance.

I want to license "Home" by Phillip Phillips. I'll be darned if I can find a source or process to do that. Any suggestions? Thanks so much.

What are those fascists gonna do? block my IP? Have a police officer come up to my door?

You really should be paying for the music that you use in your videos, and these days finding cheap music is so easy! I use Soundstripe to license music for my videos because they offer unlimited access to all tracks for a cheap monthly or yearly fee. If you use code STRIPE10 at checkout you'll get 10% off: https://soundstripe.grsm.io/soundstripe