Using Music in Slideshows

Hi Everyone!

I am currently putting together a slideshow of images from a recent trip to Japan for my photography club. I would eventually like to put it on my website and Facebook photography page. To keep with the Japanese theme I want to use some music by Joe Hisaishi who composed a lot of the music for the Studio Ghibli anime films. My question is regarding copyright.

I'm not too worried about copyright issues when using the music for the slideshow at the club, as I've used music before, but how do I stand when putting it on my website or FB page? Do I have to seek permission to use it, or can I just reference it at the end of the slideshow? I have seen other slideshows on FB, Youtube and on websites using recognisable music and no reference to it at all.

I know the likelihood of the composer ever finding out is minimal, but I want to do the right thing!

It's illegal ... You're making a copy of the material . It's for more than limited ' personal use' as you're playing it publicly for others to hear. Sorry, apart from contacting the recording publisher and getting permission then there's no ' right' or ok ' way to use it as you intend.

Check Eric Matyas' free music.
► http://soundimage.org/

The correct procedure is to obtain a licence, which you can do if your camera club is a federation member and therefore a member of the PAGB. The licence will enable you to show your work complete with the music you wish. It's no doubt detailed on the PAGB website, or look at the Wilmslow Guild website as they specialise in this sort of thing.

Oddly, part of the licence is that whatever music is used must not be credited to the artist. I don't understand why, but there it is.

PS This licence is also needed to show your slideshow at your club.

PPS http://www.pagbnews.co.uk/e-news/archive%202010-11/29_June10_Copyright2.pdf

http://www.av-group.org.uk/WGAV/index.html

It is actually a fairly black and white situation. If it is for public broadcast - which this would be - you have 3 options:

1. Use music without permission and accept the moral and or legal implications of doing so

2. Get permission to use the music - generally by purchasing a license or by being part of an organisation that is licensed for anybody in the organisation to be covered by the license within the agreed usage terms

3. Only use Royalty Free music which is available from numerous on-line sources - many of whom only ask to be credited as the composer or for a link to their web-site to be displayed - such as Purple Planet.

link

If you check out the 'Ambient' section on Purple Planet - you may find there are several royalty free pieces that would suite your slide-show - I have used a couple from here in the past

From personal experience - there is a surprising amount of very good Royalty Free music out there.

Carl

Hmmm, I had a feeling that would be the case!! Thank you for your help and advice. I will certainly check out the royalty free music websites - thank you Carl and Steve. I will also find out if the club is in the federation - thanks for the link John.

I guess the same would apply if I was to use the music from a clip that someone had posted on Youtube of themselves playing music by Joe Hisaishi. Guess they are breaking the law too, right?

Part of me wants to use the music anyway and take a chance. But then I know how we photographers get upset when our pictures are taken without our permission and that would make me just as bad!

Well if Joe Hisaishi wanted to show some of my photographs as a backdrop during a performance of his music, then I would gladly provide permission

What is it about this specific music that you feel connects it to your images? The two are entirely different artistic endeavours, are they not?