I recently heard that novelists may need to be much more rigorous about obtaining permision to quote lyrics or or epigrams than I had previously thought. This is apparently a particular concern with ASCAP/BMI lyrics. I’d foolishly relied on my experience with quotes in academic works, but of course, novels are different.
Believing brief quotes were automatically allowed, I peppered my book with them. However, I hear the hyper-litigious music industry seems to have too much time and legal talent on its hands, on staff, and on retainer – and, sadly for me, it’s the lyricists, not the performers, who collect -and expect- royalties
Ironically, I’d have used far fewer quotes if I hadn’t been so diligent about trimming them to the briefest essentials. Hoist by my honorable intentions!
My lawyer said: “I’m not sure. Try to play it safe. I’ll check on it.” In other words, the typical kind of lawyer answer [hey, they’re neither omniscient nor prescient] that makes people turn to SDMB for answer. However, I’m not looking for legal opinions, I’m more interested in the experiences of the authors here, in getting permission from the rightsholders. I’m having weird visions of trying to wrest letters of assent from current rightholders, ranging from giant corporations to reclusive artists to warring heirs, most of whom probably won’t care enough to lick a stamp - until the book comes out. (But once they smell the slightest whiff of their intellectual property… why does the word “Blammo!” spring to mind?)
I will of course, find and some lawyer more familiar with the legal issues. It’s he process of getting the permissions that concerns me now. Is it fairly easy? Can I expect a good response rate or will my letters be ignored? (I hope none expect money They won’t get it. Most novels don’t make enough money to justify the time spent writing them, as it stands. I just enjoy exploring different writing styles.)
This book will be getting a significant (and, I hope, final) revision this summer, because I’ve found a solution to a style issue that’s nagged me from Day One. It’d be nice to go into the rewrite knowing how much of a headache each of those quoted lyrics potentially represent. I’d hate to lose the texture they bring.
Can anyone cite some good recent novels that were peppered with quoted lyrics, so I could contact their authors about the process? I’m sure my imagination is exaggerating the task and the hassles, but I’d like to hear that from someone who’s been there.