legally using music for webpage

<p>I have the option of upload music to my webpage. I know that music before 1922 is considered public domain. Does that mean the sheet music or the actual recording? I have found free dowloadable mp3s of old blues and want to know if I can use that legally for free? What do most photographer's use for their website?</p>

<p>Do some Googling for "royalty free music" and look for things you can license for a one-time (and frequently very modest) fee. There are all sorts of resources out there that won't get you into copyright trouble.</p>

<p>Most photographers who I know don't use music.</p>

Check out Magnatune: http://magnatune.com/

 

Specifically, their licensing page: http://magnatune.com/info/licensing

 

With that said, the "Back" or "Close" button is usually the next thing I smack with prejudice the minute a Web site loads with unexpected music blaring.

<p>Music seems to be common with wedding and/or portrait photographer's Websites, and while most don't like music (depends on the music to me), if you use music on your Web pages (usually only on the home page), please don't forget to reduce the volume and add the "sound off" buttom. Otherwise, look for royalty free music Website and check their disclaimer to verify the music is actually free or they're just providing (illegal) downloads. Good luck.</p>

<p>To answer your first two questions: Sheet music and performances are copyrighted separately. If the music is not in the public domain, the performances have to pay a royalty for usage to the publisher/author. Just because the MP3s were free does not mean that copyright is waived. It's highly likely that the at least the recording is protected.</p>

<p>Don't do it! Not for the reason of "royalty free music" or copyright. Just because people (possible customers) came to your site to see photos not to listen to music. Besides that, I don't like it. I've read that a lot of other people don't like it.</p>

<p>I've never read any one say...<br>

"I would have used them as my photographers but they did not have music on their site so I skipped them and went to the next photographer that had really good music on their site." :)</p>

 

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<p>I've never read any one say...<br /> "I would have used them as my photographers but they did not have music on their site so I skipped them and went to the next photographer that had really good music on their site." :)</p>

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<p>Couldn't have said it better myself.</p>

<p>thanks, going to skip the music altogether.</p>

<p>Julie, one last thought (from me anyway), you asked the question of photographers and not potential customers. Photographers are obviously biased, and mostly against music, but consider it's their personal opinion. Without information to support "Don't do it", that it's counter productive, there's not reason not to have music if that's your choice. Customers may like it to enhance the visit to your Website. Why else do some Wedding photographers seem to have music with their Web pages? Not just because it's cool or neat to do. It's about developing the Website with the focus on the customer, inviting them to view your images and consider hiring you. Music may help the presentation. You can get around it by adding the "sound off" button, even for photographers.</p>

<p>Point One, if the right music helps your selling message, then go for it!<br>

Point Two, the best source I have found for buying this type of music is http://musicbakery.com/<br>

I have a few dozen of their CDs that I use and use again. Pay once use for ever!</p>

 

<p>Just an outsider's opinion here, I just got back into photography from when I used to shoot film. During my research on pricing and packages photographers offer nowadays, almost every time a site pops up that is blaring music, or even has it soft in the background I immediately leave it. I'm not saying it determines whether the photographer is good or not, I just don't want to have to search for the volume bar to turn it off.</p>

<p>I have no problem with music on a site, provided it is soft, not blaring and neutral with regards to style. As others have said, it is all personal opinion - perhaps visit a few sites at random, and make notes as why or why you don't like the site with music.</p>

<p>Is it the volume?<br>

Chosen song?<br>

Chosen style?<br>

Inability to switch it off?<br>

Just hate the site totally - music doesn't even come into it?</p>

<p>Once you've done a little bit of research, ask friends, family, colleagues etc what their views are on your chosen piece as incorporated into your site. Take a poll and see what their comments are regarding the choices you made.</p>

<p>Maybe I'm in the minority, but having music on a site doesn't bother me if it is quiet and not blaring. Regardless of the sites I visit, if it's so loud the entire neighbourhood can hear it, I get out as quick as I can - I won't even bother to look for the OFF button and I certainly won't bookmark it. That said, a good choice of neutral, softly playing music is not a distraction, but I still want an OFF button in plain sight that I can hit should I want to view in piece and quiet.</p>

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<p>With dialup sometimes musics starts to play 5 to 20 minutes later.<br /> <br /> If the site just bogs you go vist another vendor whose site is "dialup friendly"; ie it does not waste ones time.<br /> <br /> Long ago with BBS's early internet; it was considered REAL RUDE to waste folks time with bloaded connections.<br /> <br /> If you really want to cull out some customers; add music; add that their computer need to download some app variant of the week; make it load real slow; add flashing adverts and malware. !:)<br /> <br /> An added new thing is many folks surf the web with Blackberrys and iPhones.<br /> Even if you flush old dialup customers down the toilet and write them off; one has the moblie devices to ponder.<br /> <br /> Better sites load ok with phones too. Not everything is included with mobile browsers; if your clients use phones to browse with; see your your site works their too.<br>

<br /> If you add music; see if you can add a kill button for those who hate it; or want your site to load quicker.<br>

<br /> Some folks do not like waiting in line or for sites to load; or have music coming in while web surfing while is suppose to be working at work too.</p>

<p>Back in the early internet their was this chap web surfing at this place I worked/consulted for in the San Fernando Valley. He was on dialup at 2400 bps and on an X rated site. He was at lunch and the music started to load and the Dilbert crowd converged on his cubicle to see the porn site. He left the site online; it just took about 1 hour for the simple porn music to load; thus the whole office (cube farm) had this weird break in the treadmill. Folks took staggered lunches. All of a sudden there was this porno type music playing in a cubicle; a few cubes away. Folks are all standing up looking at each other. </p>