Filmmaking- Music Usage

Since the start of the project I was determined to find and gain permission to use a high quality and professional styled song in the final edit of the Go Outdoors edit. I didn't want to have to use any copyright free music or some track from Audio Network because it wouldn't fit the style and tone of a commercial and I would prefer for this to have a professional look and feel, and that also incorporates the sound. The sound benefits the presentation and shows that it's more than just a project or a students work, its a commercial.

I had a song in mind that fit my vision and I felt would go well with the final edit. This song was called 'Shadow of a Man' by Neulore and I got in touch with the bands manager to ask for permission about using it in our commercial, the response back at first was positive as he seemed more than happy to give us permission and said there wouldn't be any push back from them. Unfortunately they were not okay with the song been used on an edit and then been uploaded to sites such as YouTube. I needed to be able to gain full permission for the song or it would be no good at all. I got in touch with the studio that licenses Neulore's songs and received a sheet back to fill out about our production and what song we'd like to use. I filled out the sheet accordingly and e-mailed my response back, unfortunately I heard no word back after this and was forced to find another song.

I began searching the web and looking on websites were I could get an appropriate music license for the production. I came across a website that feature this new band that was just starting off and I listened to their album. I found this song called 'Back To You' that I thought felt like the tone of the advert and would fit in well with the footage we had shot. Instead of applying and paying out for the music license through the 3rd party website, I got in touch with the band and the bands manager directly to enquire about using the song. They were very happy to be involved and gave me permission to use there track in the production after I explained what it was for and what was happening with the content. I also able to get a signed contributors license of the band for the song, saying they give me permission to incorporate it in the video. I'm very happy with the final choice of song for the edit and think it works well with the message and idea the advert is sending out to it's audience.