Hi! I want to add a function to my website that plays a cool song everytime someone touches my header with the mouse. Where can i get i licence for that? Website is for US, UK, Australia, India
Where you get the license depends on who holds the copyright. If it is a US song then it will probably be the RIAA or BMG.
Are you sure? In germany we have the GEMA. They are responsible for ALL songs in the teritory of the federal republick of germany. Why should it be different in the US?
Because the GEMA is a German based organization. The US has it's own organizations. We have several, but the RIAA and BMG account for most American music. If you wanted to use a US song you would get permission through the RIAA or BMG. If you wanted to use a German song it would be the GEMA. If you wanted to use a song from somewhere else, I sure they would probably have some sort of organization as well.
Do you have any documentation to show that? I know GEMA has reciprocal agreements with other organizations (including EMI), but everything I've read suggests that there is no such agreement between GEMA and BMG or the RIAA.
I don't have any documentation, but i know how business is done in germany. If i want to play a famous song in the public, i have to pay the GEMA.
Only for songs that GEMA either holds the rights for (German musicians) or has a reciprocal relationship (like EMI in th UK). If they do not have such a relationship then they can't collect any royalties. It may be that they do, but everything I've read says that the US groups have pulled out of such arrangements, meaning GEMA has no authority to collect royalties on their behalf. [EDIT]Okay, found out more. The reciprocal royalties payment comes through the international organization CISAC. The US organizations were and still are members of that organization (they are not members of the other reciprocal organization BIEM). There was talk of the US groups pulling out of CISAC (which would mean GEMA would not be able to provide permission for most US songs). It did not happen, so either it is still in the works or it was a power play by the US industry to try and get more consideration for things. So yes, GEMA can provide permission for most US songs (if they are covered in the states by ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC) to German citizens.