Hi all. I'm trying to figure out if/how to get permission to use a clip of a specific recording as background music in an upcoming episode of The Book of Life podcast. Are there any music librarians or experts among you who can help me figure out if the recording might already be in the public domain, and if not, how I can get permission to use it?
Here are the specifics: the song is "Long Ago (and Far Away)" written by Jerome Kern (music) and Ira Gershwin (lyrics) published in 1944 and first appeared in the Columbia picture "Cover Girl." The recording I want to use of this song is Jo Stafford's version (also 1944 I think) recorded for Capitol Records (example at http://www.amazon.com/Capitol-Collectors-Jo-Stafford/dp/B00000GCAA). I am leery of claiming "fair use" and would prefer to ask permission if it's needed. I emailed some publicity folks at EMI (which owns Capitol) and was directed in a rather vague manner to the "publisher" which I think meant EMI's publishing arm. Their website had info about licensing songs, but when I called the phone number, there was no number to push for "podcasting" - it's not a category they have on their radar screen yet - and I never reached a human. So I'm wondering if anyone who understands the music industry better than I do can tell me whether I actually need permission to use a 1944 song, and if I DO, whether I am asking the right people for permission. Any help is appreciated, Heidi Estrin The Book of Life www.bookoflifepodcast.com [email protected] --- Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) =========================================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: [email protected] SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
