Lafayette Music Productions, Inc. | Music Arrangement and Production Services | Eric Van Cleave
Permission to Arrange
What is "permission to arrange" and why do I need to worry about it?
The permission to make a "derivative work" is a right that is owned by the composer and administered by the publisher. In order to legally make and distribute a musical arrangement, one must obtain permission to arrange. This can be a very time consuming, confusing and expensive. However, we’re continually working to make the process quicker, easier and affordable!
There's a great deal of misinformation circulating on this topic including:
- “I bought the sheet music, therefore I have the right to make an arrangement for my choir.”
- “We do our arrangements "in-house" so we don't have to worry about it.”
- “It's okay for us to make our own horn parts because we bought the stock arrangement.”
We’re happy to be working with Tresona Multimedia, a pioneer in the music licensing business. Among their services, they are able to locate and negotiate permission with most of the country's leading publishers, and navigate the tricky process involved when ownership of a title is "split." In addition, Tresona Multimedia has developed a "pre-cleared" list with titles for which permission/licensing can be obtained relatively quickly.
While many directors and arrangers may choose to circumvent this process, Lafayette Music Productions only distributes arrangements with the publisher's permission to arrange. It protects us- and most importantly, it protects you! We think it's the right thing to do.
Do I need to locate complete publisher information prior to
submitting an arrangement request?
No. However, having some information will expedite your request. We MUST have TITLE and WRITER (and original artist if applicable).
An easy way to find song information is via MUSICNOTES.COM. In addition to being able to purchase sheet music, you can find valuable information.
- Enter title in "FIND SHEET MUSIC" tab at top of page
- You'll likely find WRITER information at the top right of the 1st page.
- Scroll down to the 2nd page and click on the SONG DETAILS tab. This will reveal info such as composer, date, etc. PLUS: Note that it will show the PUBLISHER.
Other helpful links to locate information:
ASCAP: http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?mode=search
BMI: http://www.bmi.com/
SESAC: http://www.sesac.com/Repertory/RepertorySearch.aspx?x=46&y=1
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