Legal Question in Intellectual Property in California

I have a webTV series that is growing in popularity. I started off covering independent artists and now I am getting attention from major music labels that want to have me interview their artists. The problem is I don't know where to begin to look for how we could include their music or instrumentals in our interviews without violating any copyright laws.

The web series is an online news magazine & looks much like shows you would see on television such as Entertainment Tonight, but our platform is the internet. I doubt the press is exempt from obtaining proper music licenses so with that said could you tell me what licenses I would be expected to obtain to use their music in my interviews ? Also could you point me to where I can find more info regarding news media and music licensing?


Asked on 10/08/12, 5:47 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Richard Jefferson M.E.T.A.L. LAW GROUP, LLP

Music licensing is tricky. For starters, go to the ASCAP and BMI websites. Also, look at soundexchange.com. Lastly, you may need to go directly to the label and/or publisher that owns the copyright in the sound recording and/or musical composition.

Let me know if I can help.

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Answered on 10/08/12, 8:04 am


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