Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

Thanks Veronique!

nyokai wrote:

Hi Brian--

To get mechanical licenses on just about anything Japanese it's Jasrac, but if I remember right you can get to them via Harry Fox. Last time I did it it took forever.

Thanks Phil. I think once you have contacted the publisher you are covered, whether or not they respond. I remember trying to pay mechanicals to Sun Ra. It was difficult to communicate with him. So we just sent him a check. He cashed it. End of story.

I wish somebody would use all of this wonderful technology to deal with this issue. Publishing is still in the 19th century, not even the 20th.

nyokai wrote:

Tairaku wrote:

I think once you have contacted the publisher you are covered, whether or not they respond.

I think this may not be the case if it's a new piece that hasn't been performed yet -- then the statutory rates do not necessarily apply, as I understand it, and the publisher has more control. But please correct me if I'm wrong about this.

Yes, publishing world IS pretty backwards.

The writer and publisher have the right to first recording of a composition. Once they have recorded it or allowed anybody else to, then the song is fair game and they MUST allow future performers the right to record it.

However you must get permission to change or update the lyrics for someone elses song. For example when Weird Al does parodies he has to get permission to change the lyrics.