Ok so I'm getting pretty close to finishing up my debut album. The concept is a double cd which is going to include 9-10 remixes and the other cd will be a mix of said tracks put together by myself.

The questions I am having concerning this project is with licensing. Since these tracks are not original works (even though some of the remixes have been changed enough to warrant being an original) I am confused how to go about the whole process once I complete all of the tracks.

I'm assuming I need to contact each label that owns the rights to each track and get the sign off?

After that; is a different label able to license all of the tracks and put out the album as it stands collectively?

Sorry for the questions, I'm a bit confused; not a fan of the business end of this shit lol.

What you want to do here is more or less a VA (Various Artists) compilation, at least from the business point of view. This is possible, but you have to keep in mind that licensing doesn't happen that much anymore because of the digital sales.

Finding a label that is ready to license all tracks, pay advances to each 3rd party, and release this together with your own tracks, is another story. Not that it's not a good idea, but it demands money, and to be honest, there's none at the moment.

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Ok so how would I go about doing a VA compilation? There is still licensing involved or no?

Is it even possible for remixes to be licensed?

quote:

Originally posted by mfitterer1 Ok so how would I go about doing a VA compilation? There is still licensing involved or no? Is it even possible for remixes to be licensed?

What Airwave said is spot on. It's going to cost you, or the label who will take the project on, some $$$$. Some of the big factors will be how many tracks are you needing licensed and who owns the rights to them. If they're all from smaller labels, you could probably get it done for 3 figures. If you're using music owned by big labels, you're looking at 4 figures, and possibly 5. You are not going to find a single label on this planet who will pay those licensing fee's. You'll find several that will want to do the release if you're willing to pay for all of the licensing. The more known you are, as well as the label you're trying to get the release done with, will also determine how much $ this will cost. For instance, (and let's be honest here) - Nobody knows who you are and nobody knows who Olympik Records is. We would likely have to mortgage our eye balls out to make this release happen and we wouldn't even come close to breaking even.

If you're willing to burn some money to get your name out there, it's possible and likely. If you don't feel like throwing away 4 figures (a label sure as hell isn't) then you need to make other plans. I actually know of a very well respected artist who had 150 white labels pressed and sold because #1. he knew they would sale (and they did, fast) and #2. he is old school and wanted to do it

Last edited by DjStephenWiley on Aug-13-2009 at 21:46

If there's no other method of getting it out there I have no problem licensing all tracks myself.

However, I still am confused as to if this is necessary if a va comp. direction was taken? I understand the licensing aspect and will do that if all else fails but still am not understanding how to go about the va comp?

quote:

Originally posted by mfitterer1 If there's no other method of getting it out there I have no problem licensing all tracks myself. However, I still am confused as to if this is necessary if a va comp. direction was taken? I understand the licensing aspect and will do that if all else fails but still am not understanding how to go about the va comp?

IT's really quite simple. Don't worry about what type of compilation or what it's going to be called. Any track you use in any fashion must receive a license from the person who owns it, period. It's that simple.