OT: UK Music clearance costs

gordyboy wrote on 11/6/2006, 10:10 AM
I know the usual form in the UK if you want to use copyright music in a corporate video is to submit a request via MCPS (the Mechanical Copyright Protection Society) for the track(s) the client wants to use but does anyone have any idea of the ballpark likely costs?

Obviously it will depend on who the artist is and what track, together with the number of people who will be seeing the end result (in this case about 150 people will see and be given a DVD of the final video) but I want to recommend the client gets full clearance and I'm sure they will immediately ask me for a guide as to the price.

Let's assume it's something obvious like 'Right Here, Right Now' by Fatboy Slim or something of that 'gee the audience up' type of motivational track.

Has anyone been through this process in the UK who can give me the benefit of their experience?

Thanks

gb

Comments

DavidMcKnight wrote on 11/6/2006, 10:58 AM
My post has no bearing on your question cause it isn't UK, but I know in the States it's probably whatever the market will bear. In 1982 I wanted to use the lyrics of a Journey song in our high school yearbook, and the publishing company wanted $50 IIRC. And that was a lot of money to everyone back then, so it didn't happen. A couple of years ago the fee for a song I wanted to use was $50 for 100 copies, a done deal. (it wasn't a very popular song though).

Last week I wanted to use an Irving Berlin song for a 50-copy chamber of commerce project and the pub. wanted $500. No thanks!
AlanC wrote on 11/6/2006, 12:05 PM
Not a definitive answer I'm afraid but I am UK based. Last year I wanted to use "I'll be Watching You" by The Police.

It was for a private venue of about 100 guests to be played as the theme to a CCTV security presentation.

Publisher came back with "Sorry, not at any price!"

Alan
TLF wrote on 11/6/2006, 11:48 PM
Radio 2 did a feature on copyright a few months ago (Tuesday evenings; called something along the lines of "I've heard that before").

There was an interesting segment that dealt with the problems of getting copyright clearance if an artist wants to use a sample from a song. There are in fact TWO sets of copyright permission that need to be granted. I can't recall what they are, but it's a trap The Verve fell in to. They were granted permission by the Rolling Stones to use part of the music, but failed to get permission from the owner of the recording (I think).

Hence, they have to hand over all royalties from their most popular song to someone else, and although they wrote and performed it, the writing credits go to the Stones.

Anyway, may I suggest a visit to the IAC's website: http://www.theiac.org.uk/central/copyright.htm

By becoming a member, you could save yourself a fortune. For the record, I am not a member of the IAC. I know of it only through my membership of a local video and film makers' club. So that is my only affiliation.

Hope that helps.

Worley (London, England)
gordyboy wrote on 11/7/2006, 4:22 AM
Yes Worley - you are right. MCPS only help arrange clearance from the copyright holder - you also need to get clearance from the sound recording owners.

Copyright owners are free to deny use of their music as Alan discovered.

This is so frustrating - all MCPS say on their website is 'Producers should also form a realistic expectation regarding fees for [the music's] use'.

But I don't know what is realistic or how to set the client's expectations. Could it be a few hundred pounds, a few thousand, tens of thousands? No idea... without approaching MCPS and triggering a formal request which would not be appropriate at this stage as we are still just at the stage of quoting a price for the job.

Arggghh!

gb