strathspey@strathspey.org:44924

SMiskoe

Re: The Strathspeyer's CD - Mix and Match - MCPS licensing

March 30, 2006, 7:04 p.m. (Message 44924, in reply to message 44898)

I have just almost finished a CD from our Strathspey group's concert last  
November and I can add something to the copyright nightmare.  We looked at  all 
the tunes that were less than 70 years old.  About 10.  I  contacted the 
composers, that was an interesting feat.  Several said fine,  one said yes but 
please pay me, 2 said fine but according to proper licensing  procedures.  We then 
contacted Harry Fox Agency who takes care of the  American rights and they 
have a huge database where you can find tunes  registered with them.  There is a 
formula for how many CD copies you make,  how many minutes long the set is.  
For me it worked out to be about  $90-$110 per tune.  For the UK composers we 
had to contact MCPS who were  not interested in dealing with Americans.  
However in one instance we  contacted the composer who called MCPS and asked them 
to register the tune with  Harry Fox so payment could be made.  MCPS obliged 
and we will be paying  Harry Fox.  I do plan to contact a few composers after 
all this is finished  and see if they actually received money.  It has taken a 
few months and I  did not do the leg work, someone else who's business is 
internet research took  over that part and they put in a lot of hours.  Hopefully 
when we make  another CD the process will be easier.  In the process of 
checking out  tunes I have turned up quite a number of supposed traditional tunes 
that have a  live composer.  The most notable one being Tam Lin composed by Davey 
Arthur  from Donegal.
Sylvia Miskoe Concord, NH USA