Music in Public Domain

Bill DiPietra · September 28, 2006

Hey all.

Do any of you know of a webiste(s) that lists music that is in the public domain? I know a lot of classical music is in the public domain, right?

Thanks for any help.

Dan Goulder · September 28, 2006

Although the composition itself is in the public domain, the actual performances need clearance. The key is to acquire "royalty-free" performances, which can by found online (through Google, etc.) for a nominal fee. A more ambitious step would be to commission and record live musical performances, depending of course on what your budget allows. (A chamber quartet may suffice, as opposed to a full-blown symphony orchestra.)

Bill DiPietra · September 29, 2006

Although the composition itself is in the public domain, the actual performances need clearance.

Thought so...thanks for the info.

James Steven Beverly · September 29, 2006

Just as a general guideline. Things written and recorded before 1922 are in public domain, anything after 1922 needs to be cleared for both the music itself and the recorded preformance of that music you wish to use. You can get a lot of info at ASCAP. One trick is to use recordings of popular music that is a "cover" of the original. Some of these covers are terrific but were not as popular or well known as the originals and much less expensive to get the rights for. Another is to use less well known stuff by popular artists, That also is less expensive to get than their hits. There are clearing houses that specialize in clearing the rights to music and charge a fee for thier services otherwise it's a matter of negociating independently yourself to get them and there is NO set price on anything. You can also get the rights to use the music for festival presentation only, which is cheaper than if you plan to use the peice in a film that will recieve a general release. You can also negocieate for the rights to use part of the song as opposed to the entire piece. If you can find an up and coming band that hasn't made it yet but WILL, you've struck gold. That's what happened to Melvan Van Peeples when he got Earth, Wind and Fire to do the music for Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song before anyone had heard of them. Sometimes you get lucky and sometimes your just that good. B)

Bill DiPietra · September 29, 2006

Thanks again.

Hal Smith · September 29, 2006

If you can find an up and coming band that hasn't made it yet but WILL, you've struck gold. That's what happened to Melvan Van Peeples when he got Earth, Wind and Fire to do the music for Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song before anyone had heard of them. Sometimes you get lucky and sometimes your just that good. B)

I saw an early XXX movie in the 60's that had a scene in a hippie club with a band. The band? It later became known as "Sly and the Family Stone." God, do I wish I had a print. :D

James Steven Beverly · September 30, 2006

I saw an early XXX movie in the 60's that had a scene in a hippie club with a band. The band? It later became known as "Sly and the Family Stone." God, do I wish I had a print. :D

Dude, I got some spare porn I can send you if you need som.........Oh, wait a minute, because Sly and the Family Stone was in it. Yeah Right, OK, Got ya! :D Actually that is wild. I don't suppose you remember the title? What an unususal peice of movie history. It would be a groovy thing to have. B)