Licensing can be confusing. At Identity Music, we’re all about making life easy, so this article outlines many of the licences/rights you may need and when you might need to use them.
What is a Master Recording Licence?
The master licence gives the user permission to use a pre-recorded version of a song in a visual or audio project, but does not allow a user to re-record a song for a project (i.e. to cover or edit a song). Generally a master licence is issued in conjunction with a sync licence.
What is a Mechanical Licence?
A mechanical licence grants an artist permission to reproduce and distribute a song someone else wrote (i.e. the lyrics, underlying melody and character of the song). For example, purchasing a mechanical licence will legally allow an artist to record and distribute a cover of another artist's song, but cannot be used in the case of sampling, editing or changing the original work.
What is a Public Performance Licence?
This licence is perhaps the most common form of music licence issued today. While ‘performance’ may be a limiting term, it applies generally to any broadcast of an artist’s work. It allows the licensee to perform the protected work “publicly”, which includes audibly available background music in offices and waiting rooms, as well as radio broadcasts.
What is a Sync Licence?
This method of licensing refers to music that is going to be paired with some form of visual media. It has a broad range of uses, including commercials, studio films, streaming advertisements, personal films, internal communications, and more.
What is a Print Licence?
This licence refers to the physical copy of the sheet music that an artist has created. It’s needed when someone prints a sheet music compilation, or any time the sheet music of copyrighted work is reproduced.
What is a Compulsory Licence?
A compulsory licence is one of the most commonly used in the music industry it lets a musician record (and sell) a rendition of a previously recorded song by paying royalties to the original composition artist who is the legal copyright holder of the work
What are Exclusive Rights?
Someone other than the original creator owns the rights to elements within the track such as the lyrics, composition and sound recording.
If you have any further questions about this please do contact the Client management team and they will be able to show you in further detail. Or by clicking on the support chat button on the website. (Video below to show how):