[BC] Music In Commercials

[Mike McCarthy]

When participating in the  "Do It Yourself Messiah" each year, there are 
multiple postings on the web page, ticket page and front doors that each 
person in the choir must have their own "original" paper copy of the 
entire work to be performed. The music director provides the details on 
which published version to use. While the DYM is a free concert, it is 
still never the less a legal performance.  It's just that the audience 
is the choir....some 3000 strong.  It's fun....well worth the $20 for 
the manuscript.  I also believe it's recorded and played back on WFMT.

When I was much younger, I was in choir and each of us was issued 
"original" paper for each piece ostensibly for that very same reason.  
Each voice is considered a performance. So every one of the choir needed 
their own copy.  Same too for plays. Each actor needs their own original 
copy of the script and music in the case of musicals.

While you can copy the script or music for personal editing and 
annotation, there needs to be an "original" rights-paid published 
document for each person.  Doesn't matter if it's a commercial endeavor, 
school, church or informal public group performance.

MM

On 2/1/2012 9:26 PM, Rich Wood wrote:
> ------ At 04:56 PM 2/1/2012, Rob Landry wrote: -------
>
>> You can always do what an advertiser on a certain station north of the
>> state line does, which is to a) choose a song that is in the public
>> domain, and b) sing it yourself.
> If an advertiser isn't willing to get permission to use someone
> else's creative work I think public domain is the only option. Note
> that when schools produce amateur versions of Broadway shows
> permission is required. That would eliminate the option of singing
> the song yourself.