Here’s a reminder of the practices to be adopted when using music during an electoral campaign.
Authorization from all rights holders must be obtained before using a musical work, regardless of its duration or the context of its use. It is also important to note that the musical work is an indivisible whole, lyrics and music cannot be separated. Therefore, it is not possible to clear rights for lyrics or music alone.
When using a sound recording, it is also necessary to contact the rights holders of the recording, who may be different from those of the musical work. Indeed, the rights to the musical work and to the sound recordings are distinct.
Rights holders are under no obligation to grant authorization requests, and authors and composers benefit from moral rights.
Specialized companies in rights clearance can assist you with these procedures.
For more details on the steps to follow, it is recommended to consult APEM’s Music Use Guide.