It seems I'm rarely alone in my curiosity on things. I've been trying to learn more about copyright concerns and thought I'd share what I've learned so far...
To be public domain music must have been published before 1922.
If you record yourself playing along to someone else's recording of a public domain song you must also have permission for use of their recording.
And some good info on live performance and commercial release came from JonB who wrote in another forum thread
"" If the cover version is only being performed live, then you don't need to do anything. The place at which you perform (be it a nightclub or a tv program) is responsible for paying a blanket license to BMI/ASCAP to secure performance rights. If it is being released on a CD, then the company releasing the CD is responsible for contacting Harry Fox (or whoever) to get a mechanical license. ""
Oh, disclaimer, we're not lawyers nor do we play them on TV, just sharing informal info.
hth
To be public domain music must have been published before 1922.
If you record yourself playing along to someone else's recording of a public domain song you must also have permission for use of their recording.
And some good info on live performance and commercial release came from JonB who wrote in another forum thread
"" If the cover version is only being performed live, then you don't need to do anything. The place at which you perform (be it a nightclub or a tv program) is responsible for paying a blanket license to BMI/ASCAP to secure performance rights. If it is being released on a CD, then the company releasing the CD is responsible for contacting Harry Fox (or whoever) to get a mechanical license. ""
Oh, disclaimer, we're not lawyers nor do we play them on TV, just sharing informal info.
hth