Obtaining Small Rights for Dancing to Song?

[Dave Premack]

Posted: 7/20/20 at 5:20pm

Hi, looking for your expertise, Broadway world!

My school is looking at doing a streamed dance showcase. One of the dances is to a song from Newsies. They want to have the Broadway soundtrack in the video that 100% original choreography would be to. Does something like this need a small rights license?

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 7/23/20 at 1:08pm

See below, hope it helps.

" "Small Rights" is a term used to cover performances of individual songs in a concert or cabaret-type setting. There are three major agencies that control these rights in the U.S.: SESAC (Society of European Stage Authors and Composers), ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Author and Publishers) and BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) Depending upon the songs that are being performed, licenses may be required from one, two or all three of these organizations for a single presentation. Most schools, churches, restaurants and clubs pay an annual fee to obtain a "blanket license" from these licensing agencies that covers the "small rights" use of all music in their respective catalogues for the year. Note that these blanket licenses DO NOT permit dramatic performances of songs.  The songs can be performed only in cabaret style.  While it is sometimes difficult to draw a distinction between dramatic and non-dramatic performances, a dramatic performance usually involves using a song to tell a story or as part of a story or plot.  A blanket license permits neither the use of dialogue from the show nor sets, costumes and/or choreography that invoke the original show. "

[thatdarnzach]

Posted: 7/23/20 at 2:26pm

This is a sync rights license, not small rights. If you can determine the music publisher for NEWSIES (might be Disney), you can apply and then use this with a sync rights license.

[itsjustmejonhotmailcom]

Posted: 7/23/20 at 4:29pm

Dave Premack said: "Hi, looking for your expertise, Broadway world!

My school is looking at doing a streamed dance showcase. One of the dances is to a song from Newsies. They want to have the Broadway soundtrack in the video that 100% original choreography would be to. Does something like this need a small rights license?"

If you're streaming this to the public, I don't think you can recreate the original choreography without permission fir that too.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/23/20 at 4:46pm

I think the op means the choreo is 100 % their own original choreo.