Copyright question

Hi All,

I know it’s been asked before but I just need it clarified in plain old English…

I want to start uploading to YouTube and Instagram of me playing songs, but also improv solo’s. If I upload a song of me playing etc. BB Kings “The Thrill has Gone”, just all the solo parts to the “Thrill has Gone” backing track, is that ok?
Do I have to mention the artist who made the backing track and BB King in the tags etc.
Is this correct for all artists, as long as you tag them in, you are fine?
Is this the case with backing tracks as well when I’m doing a improv solo, do I need to mention the artist of the backing track?

I know some songs we cannot publish at all e.g. The Eagles

Also I have learnt solos from Justin’s “Really Useful Blues Solos” book, if I upload me playing these solos, do I need to mention Justin?

For context…
I use a Spark 2 amp with the Spark app so I use the backing tracks found on the app which mainly come from YouTube, so are the rights issue covered by Spark (Positive Grid)

Basically, I don’t want to annoy any artist or get my videos banned/taken down.

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I think you will be fine using the BTs you find on the app, Rachel. When you upload YT will do a copyright check. You will then know if it is OK or not. In my experience mostly what happens when something is recognised, when I record myself singing a song, is indication that it is OK to publish and then any money earned would go to the copyright holder.

I think if you source BTs from YT or strip parts from an original song to serve as backing then it is polite and respectful to acknowledge the source. But I couldn’t say if YT pays any attention to what you write in the video description.

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Rachel - are you sure about it? There are literally dozens of ‘Hotel California’ covers on YT, including tutorials teaching how to play the solo note for note… I’m not sure about the BTs for the song those folks used, but I don’t think any of those channels faced any copyright problems.
Anyway, I’m glad you posted your question. I haven’t published on YT yet (I upload all my music samples on SoundCloud), but I do intend to. Luckily I record all my BTs myself, including those for playing covers of songs by well-known artists. As long as I acknowledge the original author, I don’t think I’ll have any problems.

Absolutely. I’d hate to do that, too.

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You might find that is because Don Felder wrote the original melody/riff, and not only Henley and Fry. Anything else with those two names on are it seems a no go.

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OK, good to know, thanks.

@Malz
It’s ironic they don’t want people to play it when Don Felder actually has a YT video on how to play the song correctly and in what keys… Oh well…I suppose if you just acknowledge the original artists so you can cover yourself against any later issues.

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That video is blocked in the US, too.

Hi @Jamolay
Can view it here in Europe, it must be a US YT copyright thing…

Yes you do get regional blocks… the cover I posted of Green Day’s American Idiot was blocked in Russia and one other country (forget which). You get a notification from YouTube shortly after uploading when this happens but there’s no additional consequences from it

No.

The Spark app is really just a skin over YouTube. You could play the same backing tracks in YouTube just as easily.

Being presented in the Spark app doesn’t give any additional copyright protection.

Cheers,

Keith

Don Felder isn’t the problem, and also not the only rights holder.

Don Henley also has copyrights over the Eagles songs, and has chosen to enforce them in a highly Draconian way (and to then complain about the cost to him of doing so).

Cheers,

Keith

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They don’t, and will add copyright information of their own if they detect a copyright song.

But there’s no harm in acknowledging the original artists.

Cheers,

Keith

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Don Henley had no hand in the writing of Take it Easy, and Peaceful Easy Feeling, which happen to be the only Eagles songs Justin has lessons for on the website. He had more, but took them all down for his peace of mind (3 strikes in 90 days and you lose your Youtube Channel). Our own @Lisa_S once got a copyright strike for her cover of Anchorage by Michelle Shocked. A few minutes of research on google and Youtube for advice like this video will soon provide you with a list of artists to avoid covering, and the guy in the linked video has what sounds like a plausible rule of thumb for anybody else’s songs - check youtube for the song you want to do, if there’s loads of covers going back years, you’re most likely safe to do it.

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