Paying royalties for using a song from a musical

[Inigomontoya]

Posted: 2/18/10 at 6:49pm

I was wondering if I want to put on a song revue, do I need to pay royalties if I use songs from a musical, because Iv'e heard that you can use up to 3 songs from a musical without having to pay.
And if I do have to pay, anyone have any idea how much it costs?

Thanks.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/18/10 at 7:34pm

If it's a school, I wanna say the ASCAP agreement most schools have will allow it...but don't hold me at all.

[Inigomontoya]

Posted: 2/18/10 at 7:39pm

It's for a private cabaret show held in a pub.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/18/10 at 7:57pm

Ask if they pay BMI/ASCAP fees that cover all music in the venue. If so, you are good to go.

[Inigomontoya]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 3:57am

Well, It's my cabaret, and I'm doing checks before I start this thing, now, If I live outside of the U.S, do I need to pay those organisations or is paying the royalties organsation in charge in my country is enough.

Also, anyone knows of artist who allow free usage of their songs?

[romgitsean]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 6:55am

AASCAP is weird. I just had to deal with them for things at my school, and they gave me the most useless answer. They said for any educational institution lower than a college level they can't license any sort of music, you will have to contact the author, but they will "most likely" let you use the music.

I'd say go for it. There's a good chance no one will come 'round looking for ya.

[Inigomontoya]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 7:41am

I thought doing so to, and the fact that in terms of copyright royalties I come from a 3rd world country helps:)
Having said that, I don't mind supporting composers and paying to use their work, I just don't want that money to go to some organisation I don't know...

Oh well, better call my lawyer...

[Patash]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 3:05pm

I don't know if things have loosened up over the years, but Tams Witmark used to go after people with a vengeance. If a girl wore a black cocktail dress and sang Hello, Dolly in a review and you had paid Ascap, you were fine. If she came down a stairway singing it and wearing a red sequined dress and a feathered headpiece they insisted you were "performing a scene from the musical" and would go after royalties.

[Inigomontoya]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 3:10pm

Royalties are a real pain...
I say all the composers should have a paypal account and I'll just donate money to them for their good work..

Will save me the effort, time and money with freaking lawyers, everyone tells me a different thing, but they charge alike...
Updated On: 2/19/10 at 03:10 PM

[Fanb]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 10:44pm

This sounds like a question for averagebroadwaynut - the most knowledgeable person on this board!

[Inigomontoya]

Posted: 2/20/10 at 8:02am

I would love to hear what he thinks about this...

[Upland]

Posted: 2/20/10 at 10:26am

Ok, averagebroadwaynut, what is the answer already? Thanks in advance!