Is Your Song Ready For A TV Or Film Placement? — Pitfalls To Avoid (Video)

If there's interest to include your song, or the recording of your song, in a film, TV series, advertisement, video game, or another similar form of media, there's a lot to keep in mind, much of which can be considered well in advance of getting interest.

Ultimately, nowadays, licensees want a "one-stop-shop" where all interests in both the composition and the recording of the composition, if any, will be cleared by one party. Regardless, with the exception of compositions or recordings in the public domain, as applicable, the licensee needs to clear any and all rights that are being used.

A Copyright Primer

It is important to remember that, when dealing with a recording, you are dealing with two separate copyrights: (a) the copyright in the melody and lyrics if any (the "Song" or the "Composition"); and, (b) the copyright in the recording of the Song (the "Recording").