[78-L] What is the procedure for getting permission from Sony to play records on a German radio station?

[Kristjan Saag]

If these are issued musical recordings they are in public domain in 
Europe and can even be reissued by anyone who wishes to do so. Composer/ 
lyricist copyright may still apply, though, and has to be observed (it 
last 70 after the death of the last copyright owner).
As for broadcasting the recordings no record company can prevent a radio 
station to do so, no matter if the recording is in PD or not. Contrary 
to US conditions public radio stations in Europe pay copyright fees to 
the national societies for musical performing rights, in this case 
German GEMA. Only recordings from 1962 and later, are protected by the 
new EU copyrights act, which means you have to pay the record company 
for using them.
I'm not sure about spoken word recordings.
Kristjan


On 2015-03-29 19:00, ERIC BYRON wrote:
>
>   A journalist from Germany visited Ellis Island the other day and we played early recordings for him.  He asked us whether it was possible for us to make digital copies of some of the works because he would like to play them on German public radio.  These recordings speak to the immigrant experience and were recorded in America between circa 1905 and 1930.  From what I understand, the radio station would first have to get permission from the copyright owner.  I think in this case Sony is the copyright owner.  I tried calling and emailing their licensing division, but I did not get a reply.  In addition, I gave him the Sony contact in Germany.  Does anyone have any other suggestions?  Any help would be greatly appreciated.
> Sincerely,
> Eric Byron
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