I was thinking about how shows like Entourage, The Sopranos, and other
HBO original series often use well-known music by artists like Van
Morrison, Cream, Frank Sinatra, Maroon 5, Mos Def, etc. in the
background. On the other hand, I don't notice songs on network TV
using such well-known music, with some exceptions.

My best guess is that network television channels can't afford to pay
for the rights to the music. I'm wondering what the costs of using
popular songs like these are. Some examples would be helpful.

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Request for Question Clarification by answerfinder-ga on 28 Mar 2006 00:49 PST

Dear geltoorch-ga,

I have not been able to find information for TV movies but the
American Society of Artists, Composers and Publishers web site has a
useful article on music in studio films.

They do state that, ?there are no hard and fast rules in this area as
the fees are negotiated in the context of each individual film?

However, the article does go on to give some general figures. There
are, however, a lot of variables involved.

?The synchronization fees charged by music publishers for major studio
films are usually between $15,000 and $60,000 (with the majority
ranging from $20,000 to $45,000) but can be lower if the music budget
is small or higher if the song is used several times in the motion
picture, if the use is under the opening or closing credits, if the
song is a major hit, or if it is vital to the plot or particular scene
of the motion picture. There are no hard and fast rules in this area
as the fees are negotiated in the context of each individual film; the
same song may be licensed at very different rates for different
projects (i.e. major studio release, independent film, foreign film,
film festival license only, web production, or student film). It
should also be mentioned that record companies normally charge between
$15,000 and $70,000 for the use of existing master recordings in a
major studio film but, depending on the stature of the artist, the
length of the use, the music budget and how the recording is being
used, these fees can be greater or less.?


Music, Money, Success & the Movies (goes on for four pages)
http://www.ascap.com/filmtv/movies-part1.html
How to acquire music for films.
http://www.ascap.com/filmtv/faq.html

This documentary maker had to pay these amounts for his music (see
article for additional information).
?Ater four months of negotiating - "I begged and begged," Ms. Sewell
said - she ended up paying EMI $2,500. (Total music clearance costs
for "Mad Hot Ballroom," which featured songs of Frank Sinatra and
Peggy Lee, came to $170,000; total costs over all were about
$500,000.)?
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/16/movies/16rams.html?ex=1287115200&en=3d97bf1c582fee40&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss


Have a read of the articles and see if this answers you question. If
so, let me know.

answerfinder-ga

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Request for Question Clarification by answerfinder-ga on 28 Mar 2006 00:55 PST

I thought afterwards that this might also be of interest. No amounts
mentioned, but clearly the high cost of music rights is a problem.
http://www.wired.com/news/digiwood/0,1412,66696,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_1

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Clarification of Question by geltoorch-ga on 04 Apr 2006 21:58 PDT

Yes, that's helpful, although I asked for quantitative information
pertaining to the current television industry.