Does ANYONE know how to get permission to use song lyrics in a book?

[nolabear]

Geez, you'd think this would be a piece of cake. I want to use some of the lyrics of "Chapel of Love" in a book. I've looked in the US Copyright Office (anything before 1978 is murder to find), I've looked on the ASCAP site, I've googled everything I can think to Google and it seems like either they don't show it or I end up going down some rabbit hole.

Anyone ever done this? I doubt it's under fair use, but I sure am struggling to find who holds the copyright and how to get in touch with them.

Of course I'll probably figure it out as soon as I click out of here, but help appreciated anyway.

[MicaelS]

1. Found it on BMI

http://www.bmi.com/

http://repertoire.bmi.com/TitleSearch.asp?querytype=WorkName&page=1&fromrow=1&torow=25&keyname=chapel%20of%20love&blnWriter=False&blnPublisher=False&blnArtist=False&blnAltTitles=False


Second link above has plenty of good links. Should help you find out what you need.

[Kali]

2. I bet it IS fair use

but I'm sure somebody with actual expertise will be along soon (might try gd :scared: )

[nolabear]

3. Thanks. I'm on the BMI trail.

If it's not fair use I hope they don't want much, cuz I ain't got much!

[rug]

4. Thanks for the ear worm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7Y9nYCcYbw&feature=related

And, on top of it all, I'm not supposed tou use a Q-tip.

:grr:

[nolabear]

6. You're tellin' me!

I have a character in the book sing a verse of it and every time I went through a round of editing I got the worm. I'd wake up at night singing it. I may now be immune but I still love it. Sadly, Phil Spector is part owner of this song and he's not exactly known for being reasonable.

[rug]

9. Let me return the favor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JOwxnVoG6Q&feature=related

[ohnoyoudidnt]

5. check this out

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8231

[nolabear]

7. Thanks. It's a bit like GD over there.

I've got an e-mail in to BMI so at least I'll find out if I have to rip up a whole scene. Since we're otherwise finished I'd hate that!

[Amerigo Vespucci]

8. Send me a PM with your credit card info and I'll take care of it for you.

:sarcasm:

Please, do not do that.

:rofl:

[nolabear]

10. I didn't just fall off the Spam truck, cher...

I'll give you MFM's instead. The nurses stole his wallet while he was out and shared.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

11. I heard they stole his laminated wallet-sized card with all of his porn Website passwords.

I understand he had to send an urgent email to DrunkMidget.org earlier today and inform them that someone had hacked into his account and was using his screen name, "MiddleFingerMidgetLuvR," to post some incendiary things about his private life.

They compared the recent posts to some of his legitimate ones from the last five years and replied "There's a difference?"



:-)

[nolabear]

12. *snort!* I'm starting to feel like Margaret Dumont here.

Soon as I can think of something I'll up your ante (go ahead, I DARES yas).

[Amerigo Vespucci]

13. SADLY, the midget fetish Website breach was only the BEGINNING of his post-surgery problems.

Turns out one of the other Websites, HotTubsFluffyKitties...sort of a voyeuristic Website in which middle-aged men post photos of themselves taking a bath while being watched by cats...had a MASSIVE security breach, and HUNDREDS of photos of MFM with Siamese, Tabby, and other breeds of cats were leaked to the major cable news outlets.

In addition, Keith Olbermann plans to post a "Worst Person Of The Day" clip regarding this on his "FOK" ("Friends of Keith") Website later this evening. You can read Olbermann's comments, posted earlier today, here.

[struggle4progress]

14. I'd have a backup plan but would inform the potential publisher and let the publisher resolve it.

The publisher will have access to specialists who deal with such issues and who could negotiate the fees, which are likely to depend on book sales. The publisher may decide it's not worth the money or hassle: so you need a rewrite backup plan. Be sure you can prove you alerted the publisher to the potential issue