This article refers to those photographers who want to use music on their websites.
I personally
hate it. I am always looking for the stop button because I have my own music playing and the choices sometimes really suck.
No One Likes Being Infringed Upon. Let's Protect Our Fellow Artists. - PPA Today
I completely disagree with that first statement, mainly because we don't all like the same music, and because in most cases the music is a slow song that makes me want to sleep.
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Music can set the mood for your photography business, whether it's setting the mood for a client's slideshow or setting the tone on your website. Musicians, much like photographers, only make a living doing what they love... if or when they receive the proper credit.
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HOWEVER, if you must use a certain song for your photography website, you should consider the proper steps to take to avoid a
cease or deceit letter from the recording company. (and also not have it start from the beginning with each page of your site. That is even more annoying for a viewer).
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If you are like many photographers and want to combine copyrighted music with your images, you must obtain two different types of copyright licenses. Yes, two. First, you'll need a "master use" license which can be granted by the record label for use of the actual recording. Then, you'll need a "synchronization license" from the songwriter or music publisher to cover the use of the music in conjunction with images. (Sounds complicated, right? But don't worry; it's much easier than you might think, just read on!)
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Of course all members PPA, ASMP, APA, etc already know this as it is part of our jobs, and IF we ask others to give us credit for our photos, we too, have to give credit to those that create music or websites for us as photographers. This article explains what steps need to be taken in order for us, photographers, to get proper permission to use various songs. I think it is pretty important to remember that considering that pretty much every single
wedding photographer has music on their website, and also a lot of photographers do create slideshows for their clients with music on them.
(Also some times the client brings us the songs they want, and we are the ones who have to make sure we have permission to use those songs because these folks have no idea what kind of trouble we can get into for not getting proper permission to use their songs). As photographers the last thing we need is to be sued by some recording company because we used someones song from the 60's on a 10 photo slideshow without permission!