Discussion:
What is the name of your state? California
Hello,
I am creating videos of products that I sell and I am posting the videos on the internet. I would like to put classical types of music to these videos. Is there a copyright on the music created by Mozart and other classical artists, because they have been dead a long time, but if it is recorded by an orchestra, does that mean it is still copyrighted by that orchestra? Does anyone know where to get music that can be used for stuff that is going to published on the web. I just want to calm generic music that I can slap over the videos to make them more appealing, without going through the hassle of getting permission to use certain songs and without paying an arm and a leg, is there any music out there that I can put on my website for free (I am not selling the songs or the videos). If anyone has any insight into this, please let me know. Thanks
-Brice
Answer:
Is there a copyright on the music created by Mozart and other classical artists, because they have been dead a long time, but if it is recorded by an orchestra, does that mean it is still copyrighted by that orchestra? The copyright for the underlying "musical work" -- that is, Mozart's song -- would be long since expired, and the work in the public domain. Virtually any song written before 1923 is now in the public domain (a few exceptions for works originally published in Europe, but that's it).
However, the performance of the musical work -- say, the London Philharmonic doing Mozart -- would likely be covered by copyright if it was recorded after 1923, and certainly covered by copyight if recorded after 1950 or so.
So, this means that you could record a version of the Mozart song yourself without having to buy a license to use the Mozart song; however, if you want to use the London Philharmonic's version of the Mozart song, you'll still need to get a license to use that particular recording.
anyone know where to get music that can be used for stuff that is going to published on the web. I just want to calm generic music that I can slap over the videos to make them more appealing, without going through the hassle of getting permission to use certain songs and without paying an arm and a leg, is there any music out there that I can put on my website for free (I am not selling the songs or the videos). If anyone has any insight into this, please let me know. You can try Google. You might also want to go to a music store (not a record store, but a store that carries sheet music, recording gear, instruments, etc.). Oftentimes they will sell CD's of music and samples that can be used royalty-free.