Do I need any sort of license to put on a musical review?

[munyfan]

Posted: 8/20/07 at 11:36pm

I am putting together a fundraiser show for a non-profit org. that helps kids with cancer. The show will feature 10 performers under the age of 18. Well, I was wondeirng, do I need any sort of license to use songs from musicals if I am not charging admission, just accepting donations? Thanks a ton!

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 8/20/07 at 11:43pm

No as long as you don't do a certain amount of songs from the same show. To be safe, make the composers vary, too.

[LuPonatic]

Posted: 8/20/07 at 11:43pm

make sure your organization is a member of ASCAP. purchase a copy of each piece of music you use. Sometimes there are rules like "no more than 2 or 3 songs from any one show" or "can't use original staging or costumes" etc...

[MarkRascati]

Posted: 8/20/07 at 11:44pm

2 whole posts and no sarcastic comment on the misspelling of "revue"?

[LuPonatic]

Posted: 8/20/07 at 11:51pm

I'm not a jerk :O)

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 12:04am

Neither am I- usually.

[Playbill9117]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 12:12am

Well, I would have corrected you, but now everybody's declaring how nice they are all of a sudden. I can't catch a break.

Anyway,

ASCAP will only help if your songs are listed in their repertoire. Also, ASCAP DOES NOT cover performance, just broadcast of recorded works- like house music before a show. I know this because I just got done making sure my community theatre was a member.

If you buy the music, it gives you rights to perform a concert WITHOUT costumes or choreography that evoke the original theme of the show the songs come from. In order to do this, you need to contact the publisher directly and obtain what are called "Grand Rights"

You can still have your performers dance and dress nicely, but
"Oh, What A Beautiful Morning" can't be performed in a cowboy costume.

Updated On: 8/21/07 at 12:12 AM

[gypsy4]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 12:17am

you don't need to if your puting keeping it in concert style

[jmponstage]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 12:53am

i believe the general rule is no more than 3 songs by more than one composer... that is assuming you are covered under the general ascap/bmi stuff. at least this is what i have encountered.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 2:37am

REVUE

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 2:58am

I also thought Webber is under a diffrent Copyright and you can't use his stuff without paying him.

[Playbill9117]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 9:53pm

Again, ASCAP members:

If you do your homework and read the literature pertaining to your membership, you will find that ASCAP does NOT cover performance of music. ASCAP ONLY covers pre-recorded selections played during intermissions, before shows etc.

EX: When my local theatre produces a show, our ASCAP membership allows us to play music of our choosing during intermission as long as it is listed in ASCAP's extensive list of Broadcast Rights Ownership. This is because ASCAP can only grant what are called BROADCAST RIGHTS.

PERFORMANCE RIGHTS are commonly obtained by purchasing sheet music. These rights allow groups or individuals to perform music live in concert as long as the choreography and/or costuming do not suggest themes or concepts from the show they come from.
Legally speaking, one is technically required to purchase ALL music used.(No photocopies.)

Now, anyone who wishes to perform selections WITH choreography and/or costumes that suggest concepts from the shows they come from will need to contact the publisher directly and obtain GRAND RIGHTS. Once you've obtained grand rights, you can do as much or as little with costuming and choreography as you want to. (Remembering that exact costume designs and choreography routines are the intellectual property of their respective originators.)

A common misconception is that purchasing the rights to an actual musical gives a group the right to perform that show "Concert" or "Revue" Style if they choose. This is untrue, because groups that license full shows are legally REQUIRED to perform that show "as is" without alteration to the script or score of any kind. If you wish to change anything in the script or score, most publishers simply request a fax copy of the proposed changes in the script. Publishers usually approve changes on a case-by-case basis.

None of this is very much fun at all. And little satisfaction comes from obtaining rights the legal way. This is because, depending on your location, your chances of getting caught range from slim to nill. However I do know people who did get caught, and some theatres have even lost their non-profit status due to these cases. I'm afraid that the law, as it stands, is squarely on the side of the publisher.

The guidelines above apply to MOST music and shows on a GENERAL basis. Of course, some snooty writers find ways to choose different options when it comes to copyright which results in some additional dollars being paid towards themselves.

Do your homework and don't get caught with your pants down.


Anyway, In this case, all you need to do for the purposes as you described them is purchase ALL of the sheet music. you may try and get your local music provider (if any) to donate or discount the music in exchange for advertisement of some sort. If you end up paying for it, you can write it off on your taxes.
Also, I would suggest NOT doing costumes of any kind other than "nice" attire. Or, if it's an outdoor daytime kinda thing, just have your performers wear the same color t-shirt and jeans.
Updated On: 8/21/07 at 09:53 PM

[munyfan]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 4:44pm

Thank you so much for all the info playbill9117!