argument

[SGPIANOMAN]

I posted a topic similiar to this earlier under "legality" but i never knew that i would have a specific example. My girlfriend's grandma died, and it was decided that instead of having "live" people sing we were just gonna have the music prerecorded. I figured it would give me a chance to work on my recording skills. so the various few (it amounted to 3) came over and recorded the songs. some songs i just played the background music for, some had a background track. We recorded a handfull of songs (one being an instrumental) and made the cd for the funeral. Now we made some extra copies, in case the family would like a copy of her grandchild(my girlfriend) singing on this cd. THERE IS NO MONEY BEING EXCHANGED OFF OF THIS CD. now here comes the argument: We know this guy who believes he is THE AUTHORITY on all things equiptment/recording, just because one of his wife's ex family memebers or something, owns a "big" recording studio. He starts talking the its all illegal blah blah,..i don't think there is anything wrong with it...but i'm not sure, i just want to know who's side is right, i need good information to counteract his, know it all ways.

thanks for the help, the funeral is today...here we go lol

[leonardjamaar]

tell him to go boycott a karaoke bar.
otherwise, he should shut the eff up!

-L

[PoetSleep00]

BEFORE I BEGIN
there's no reason to worry about any legal problems regarding music you recorded for a funeral . For God's sake, the man you speak of is concerned with this of all particulars? It seems as if
he'd like you to use his facilities, either that or he's pretty anal with his advice.

As long as the music you recorded was your original work and not a reproduction of someone else's song (the music or the lyrics), then you don't have anything to worry about.

However if it is someelse's material that you recorded your own version of, it was just out of tribute...and like you said you're not selling it. So nothing to worry about.

unless the one person who says its illegal gives you a problem.

[zekthedeadcow]

... or if it's public domain... being a funeral I suppose you might be useing hymns but I dunno Hymns are public domain... and pretty much everything before ... the 1920's(not really sure) is uncopyrighted... just look on the page of the Hymnal for a copyright notice ...for the song...not the book A lot of christian bands make a living rearranging the music and lyrics to some of the more obscure songs

[SGPIANOMAN]

One was a hymn the rest was some christian songs(which we did not write) to be played at the funeral. I recorded it all on my equiptment, but just the guy was just so annoying with his know it all attitude, i just wanted good backing in case he brought it up..some people eh

[zer0sig]

i find it difficult to believe that any self-respecting christian artist would give you a hard time for using devotional music in a noncommercial way for a ceremony that is considered a part of the faith.

[glynb]

The guy was probably being pedantic. IMO you should 'technicaly' ask permission of the songs copyright owners if you want to re-record it - so from that viewpoint he was right.

In practice, nothing is going to happen as a result of this. of course if you started to promote the CD and sell one or two, then that's a different matter.

[Fusion2]

the riaa stays involved even after death, go figure...

it's a sad sad world today... did anyone check your grandmas jewely in case there was an agent there...

ok, just pun on the jewely thing, the rest is absolute...

[zekthedeadcow]

Actually haveing been in a regional level christian band for 3 years I can honestly say that the christian music industry is far more vicious and anal than the secular...typically because the stakes are so small (like local politics ) however it is very easy to simply email the artist and ask for their ok and then put (used with permission). Honestly, these artists usually arn't divas who you can only contact through a press agent... Just go through email as most people are easily "weirded out" with too many phone calls... and it's a lot easier to find their email address...




they may have to have you call their lable or publisher... however A LOT of CCM is actually remade folk/old southern gospel so it might be public domain anyway as long as you don't use "their" version...


but consitering this was for a funeral I hope the issue has been resolved by now