I have been setting up a booth and displaying and selling my photographs at various festivals, art fairs and shops. I have mostly nature photography but also have some excellent photographs of musicians, taken while they are performing, which I have occasionally sold a copy of. Getting ready for a nearby music festival, and was told I could not sell photographs of the musicians who have performed there previous years, which is disappointing. I received an email saying, "the musician owns the rights to their photographs and you cannot sell them unless you have a signed release. If you get a signed release you can sell them". Is it illegal to show and/or sell photographs of musicians playing in public, does it matter whether it is in a public or private space? How can I go about getting a signed release from these musicians. I have images of Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch, and others from previous years at the festival. Also, if such a release is necessary, how would it be worded? Thanks for any suggestions or information.
