Can I use their music?

[Camille]

I have been looking into the possibilty of creating slide shows of photographs of people as a service. I was wondering if they provided the music, if I could legally add it to their slide show? Or if I would need to obtain licences or pay royalties?
All help appreciated.

[NullPointer]

If you include a disclaimer that says something like you may not upload copyrighted material, this site is not responsible for blah blah, you might be able to get away with it. If you start getting a lot of attention though you might be getting a letter from the RIAA, or probably someone else who they have mistaken for you seeing as how they keep doing that.

[webgirl]

I would say go legal from the get go. That will protect yourself later without having to pay a lot more later.

[imaginemn]

The type of licensing you will need to inquire about is synchronization licensing.

To include music as part of a video, slideshow or film, you may need the permission of both the music publisher and the record label. A music publisher owns the song (that is the words and music) and a record company owns the sound recording (that is, what you hear, the artist singing, the musicians playing, the entire production).

Check BMI http://www.bmi.com/search/, and SESAC http://www.sesac.com/repertory/repertory_main.asp. For other assistance with locating publishers you can also try the Music Publishers Association at http://www.mpa.org.

The name and address of the record company should appear on the record label. For more information on the rights of record labels you may want to contact the Recording Industry Association of America (www.riaa.com), a trade organization for record labels, 1020 19th Street, N.W., Suite 200, Washington, DC, 202-775-0101.

[Camille]

Thanks for your help. Much appreciated.

[MakeYourFirst$$$]

this is a good idea, stick with it

[Camille]

Thank You.