In Letterman's last season, he wanted the band to play an Eagle's song. The producer just about hit the ceiling; "Absolutely not!" she screamed.
Letterman: "Why? The royalties? What could it be, a few thousand bucks?"
Producer: "No."
Letterman: "Ten thousand? Twenty?"
Producer: "Two hundred thousand."
Then Dave just about hit the ceiling.

Good thing he didn't want to play Queen, then he'd have the Royals to deal with. 

Playing a major artist's song, even a cover version, to a TV audience of millions can get quite expensive, yes.

tlw
Playing a major artist's song, even a cover version, to a TV audience of millions can get quite expensive, yes.

See that's the thing, it depends on where...and realistically speaking, the show is making money, the networks make money, the people on the show make money....totally different game there.
 
For the little guys like us, as long as you are not trying to make any money covering an artist, do what you gotta do. Worst case scenario, you get a cease and desist letter warning you. If stuff like this were really an issue, the many covers heard on YouTube would all be taken down. Just look at all the cover material on there.
 
For what it's worth....
 
I did a Bryan Adams cover of "Run To You" which I really love. I contacted HFA, the publishing company, Bryan's management company....it was a mess. Then because the version I did wasn't exactly like his, there were other things that came into play. Then there is the mighty "estimate of discs that would be made as well as digital downloads". Who knows? Me personally? Though I love the cover, it's not worth the BS for me to pay additional money to use it when I have no idea as to how my album is going to do. I may play the song live....I have let other listen to it and I will share it anytime.....I'm not making a dime and don't plan on it. If I receive a letter or a call one day from someone that is someone, then I'll make up my mind to either pay something or never share the song again. I really don't care either way.
 
My buddy released an album that I recorded, mixed, mastered and played on with him about a year or so ago. He covered Alice in Chains "Them Bones". I think he paid like $250 for the amount of CD's he had made as well as a certain amount of digital downloads...whatever those amounts were. Unless you recreate a cover to the point of "holy mackeral?!" I'd not even worry about it.
 
-Danny

Beepster
@Dave...
 

 

 

and yes that's hotlinked...

 

Try and sue me you handsome and astoundingly brilliant fellow who TOTALLY should not have been banned a dozen times over in the past year or so!

Well you should get it right... I was only banned in January 2015 over the membership crap... many others that are still here where as well... it was a big fight! I admit I took the dumb side, and the rest is in my apology... at which time you graced me in a "grand motion" to unblock me and give me a new chance like you where the gate keeper to the forum... ;)    
You may not like what I say and do here and you are only p.o.ed now because I don't like your....  music... ? and that you have been trying to twist what I say in your favor for over 24 hours but have been unsuccessful... You can't beet the truth... 
 
You can ask yourself and everyone here who makes that call to ban people, why I'm still here... ? because one, you are really no better then me and because maybe I say what I mean and don't beat around the bush... I do that because that's who I am... it has nothing to do with you or anyone else here! you and a few others seem to have made it your mission to point me out as a bad apple and badger me at every opportunity... and it's just an excuses to show your true colors! If I see an issues that looks hinnky I say so! if I see something ugly I say so... many here avoid me just because they don't want to get a bad rap hangin with the Dave ;) others just join the joke brigade at my expense...  "duh" I had just talked about wires and cables and called a cable a wire" really?  get over your self.... I have :)  people may think this its funny but at the end of the day when they open their eyes they will see the cruelty within those who bash... as the truth of how all of you, and you all know who you are... truly are...
 
Now for, who knows how many times in the last 36 hours... Peace!
 

slartabartfast
Although you can request that SoundCloud remove your work from public access at any time, under 17 U.S. Code § 203 (b) (1):
"A derivative work prepared under authority of the grant before its termination may continue to be utilized under the terms of the grant after its termination, but this privilege does not extend to the preparation after the termination of other derivative works based upon the copyrighted work covered by the terminated grant."

...HUH???!? I have no idea what that even means!
 
So tell me again why SC is a great thing?! If I made a song that was never going to go anywhere, like a silly spoof or something, then no worries. But I certainly wouldn't put my best stuff there. If I only wanted Sonar users to hear it then I'd post a link from my own "cloud" and they can download it from there.

*Simplicity is not a desideratum on a par with conformity of observation* <W. Quine>

Oh, Dave. Back to playing the poor widdle victim again I see (and seemingly confusing me with a SLEW of other members... lol).
 
Don't you see? All I do is give you enough rope.
 
What you do with it is all you, bud.
 
My work here is done.
 
buhbye
 
;-)

With a copyrighted song, it doesn't matter whether you plan to use the song to make money....as in including it on a CD for commercial release, or if you post it to a forum site like our Songs Forum and let a few people hear it for no financial gain..... you still owe the royalties to the folks who own the rights to the song.
 
You can be sued based on expected audience listens. Remember the music sharing lawsuits a few years back?  You could end up owing thousands of dollars for a publicly posted "just for fun"  cover that you made no money  from.
 
If you post a cover, be sure you have contacted the Harry Fox Agency and obtained the rights for your intended use.
 
For most people like us... the so called "Fair Use" clause does NOT apply. It's primarily for folks like my wife, who's a teacher and might need to use a copyrighted song in a classroom context in a lesson.
 
So buy the license and sleep well at night or.... write and post original stuff and you don't have to worry.

I just recalled an interesting mixed experience regarding covers.
 
A small film company asked my old band to record Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart" to use as the themesong for an upcoming movie.  We went into the studio (back in the expensive "tape days") to cut it, and afterwards the company was told that they'd have to pay $60,000 for the rights.  They couldn't afford it at the time, and dropped the idea.  Leaving us with the studio bill and a great-but-unusable recording.
 
A few years later, I started working with a friend that was a huge New Order fan.  We recorded an unlicensed version of their "Age Of Consent."  Somehow, this got to Peter Hook (bassist for NO and JD) and he LOVED it.  He then asked us to do a similar version of NO's "1963" for an upcoming New Order tribute album.
 
I wish he'd been that generous with Love Will Tear Us Apart...