Hi guys and girls,
I have a piano arrangement of a popluar movie theme, and everyone who hears it would like a copy. There is no pianso arrangement readily availble of purchase. What is the process of releasing an arrangement of copyrighted music, and how are royalties paid to the composer? Thank you in advance for any info and input...
Take care,
Roby
www.mysticimages.com
In order to do this legally, you need to find the publishing house responsible for controlling rights to this composer's music. Usually, they have a website where you can submit a formal request to do this. Unfortunately, many composers, like John Williams, prohibit their publisher to allow anyone other than the publisher to make new arrangements. Normally, the publisher will contact you within a few weeks and either deny your request flat out, ask for more info, ask to see the music you arranged, or, sometimes, send you a "legal agreement" (a contract) stating what needs to be payed to them and how you can use the arrangement. I've done this with James Bond Theme, Phantom of the Opera, and tried to do it with Star Wars. Normally, the fee ranges from $100 to $200.
Try:
www.halleonard.com
www.alfredpublishing.com
Good luck.
<Added>
Check the bottom notices on an already approved and sold arrangement. You can look at the publishing info in a piano book or the first page of a conductor's score. They tend to say something like:
"Copyright 2007 MrMusic, Inc.
Print Rights For the World Controlled by Mrs.PrintMusic
International Copyright Secured
All Rights Reserved"
Normally you want to check the "Print Rights Controlled..." company, but you can even try the "Copyright..." company.
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