The master license pays only the artist for the right to use their recording the synchronization license pays the composer for the right to use their song.Īffordable Alternatives to the Original Master Recording
Synchronization License (for video projects)Įvery time that you need a master license for a video or other visual product (YouTube, slideshow), you also need a synchronization license. The master license pays only the artist for the right to use their recording the mechanical license pays the composer for the right to use their song. Mechanical License (for audio-only projects)Įvery time that you need a master license for an audio-only product (CDs, Digital Downloads, Interactive Audio Streams), you also need a mechanical license. For this reason, it is important to temper expectations when requesting a master license. Many factors affect the response, including budget, use, and even the current workload of the copyright holder’s processing department. This means they can set any price, take all the time they want, or reject the license altogether. Note that master licensing can be challenging because, by law, master rights holders maintain total control of their works. (Alternatively, you can always attempt to locate the copyright owners yourself and request permission.) For help with this process, check out our Custom Licensing services or contact us for a free consultation. Master licenses are custom-negotiated directly with the copyright holder upfront and can be quite complex. This permission is also called a master lease or master rights. Give us a call today at 1-80 for a free consultation with one of our Licensing experts!Ī master license is an agreement between a music user and the owner of a copyrighted sound recording that grants permission to use the sound recording. Do a little research to determine which record label owns the rights, then contact their licensing department or business & legal affairs department to obtain a license.Have a question this article doesn't answer? Master use licenses, on the other hand, are typically available from the record label. Another option is to search the repertories of performing rights organizations like ASCAP, BMI, and GMR, to determine who the publisher is and how to contact the publisher to obtain a sync license. You can search their database here to determine whether or not the song you’re interested in using is a part of SESAC’s repertory, and if so, you can request a sync license for that song directly from SESAC here. SESAC, a music rights organization based in the United States, provides sync licenses for many popular songs.
There are several music rights organizations that can grant those licenses, or provide contact information to a music publisher or record label that can grant those licenses. The good news is that you don’t have to contact famous celebrities directly in order to obtain these licenses. Together, a master use license and a sync license will allow you to add your favorite songs to the films and video games you create. In order to use that recording, you’ll need a master use license. And while a sync license would allow you to, for example, record a cover-version of the song and use it in your audio-visual creation, it doesn’t give you the right to use the sound recording made popular by the recording artists. A synchronization license (“sync” license) is a license that allows you to use the musical composition in an audio-visual work. When it comes to licensing music, there are two distinct copyrighted works: the musical composition (the lyrics and musical score) and the sound recording (what you actually hear). Let’s take a step back for a minute and discuss the kinds of licenses you’ll need, then we’ll discuss how to go about getting them. So how do you go about getting permission? Isn’t it almost impossible to get in touch with famous artists like Drake, Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, or Taylor Swift? But if you decide to add music without permission, you could end up facing a takedown notice, or worse. Sometimes royalty free stock music just won’t cut it.
Full Question: I’m making a short film and want to add music, but how am I supposed to contact famous artists to get permission?Īnswer: Whether you’re a filmmaker, YouTube star, or video game designer, at one time or another you’ve probably thought about adding music to enhance your audio-visual creations.