how can i find out who has ownership of a song copyright?

Question

if i want to do a cover of a song i need permision from the copyright holder

Answer 1

Best places to look fiirst would be BMI.com and ASCAP.com. They administer publisher and song writer rights for about 85% of all music.

Answer 2

This is why list manufacturers may not allow anybody into the sales space with no agreement -- every performer has EQUAL undivided joint possession of the complete recording of the tune, except they signed the paper giving all in their rights to the manufacturer (in trade for advertising and royalties). Each joint proprietor can license it to whomever they wish -- they only ought to percentage the proceeds with the opposite joint homeowners. If you "take advantage of" the copyright defense through suing an infringer, you might nonetheless generally ought to percentage the award with different joint homeowners, except they agreed or else in writing. For illustration, you would ask anyone to support pay for the lawsuit and if they do not wish to support, you will have them signal a waiver of any proceeds must you occur to win through your possess instruments and funding.

Answer 3

You can search the US Copyright records here: http://www.copyright.gov/records/

I also posted some handy resource links.

Hope that helps!

Answer 4

You have to go through the Harry Fox agency.

Answer 5

You could try
http://www.copyright.gov/records/cohm.html