Archive notice: This article was originally published on May 22, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Until now, adding music to films could not fully satisfy private video makers. Royalty-free music often does not meet the demands placed on film music: strengthening the emotion that carries a film and brings it to life. While using a Mikis Theodorakis hit such as “Zorba, The Greek,” ripped from a CD, for a private travel film and then distributing the film to fellow travellers could infringe rights, a new EMI portal now permits licensed private use of music.
For soundtracking private videos appropriately, Filmersclub at http://www.filmersclub.de offers more than 100,000 tracks in high-quality MP3 format. From Verdi to world music, its archive provides suitable musical emotion for every conceivable subject. “A high degree of authenticity is paramount in the tracks, to offer real benefit to every private filmmaker,” says Christian Reinecke of EMI. Membership is obtained simply through online registration.
Various membership periods are available. The shortest offers one month of licensed private use and downloads of 50 tracks for €6. The rights package assembled with GEMA includes copying a film up to 20 times for private copies and private, non-commercial screenings. Publication on portals such as YouTube or MyVideo is also possible for non-commercial use, as the portal operators are responsible for clearing public-performance rights. “This opens a secure route to the internet for private users with their films,” says Christian Reinecke.
EMI’s Hamburg-based Filmersclub gives hobby and private filmmakers legal film soundtracks through music downloads. Its catalogue contains more than 100,000 tracks usable as MP3 soundtracks, and the subscription price buys an extensive rights package for private use.
Further links:
- Further information
