1 reply to this topic

[swiftcoder]

_{^{I realise some of this is covered in the FAQ, and that the ultimate answer is 'talk to the license holders and a lawyer'. However, I'd welcome any advice before I commit too many resources to the project.}}

I am looking to get hold of a number of old news broadcasts, for use in a video game: public safety bulletins, weather reports etc. from the second world war, either from the BBC or it's American counterpart(s). (I understand the US broadcasts were from many different news stations, which I would guess requires negotiating with different companies)

Does anyone here have experience with licensing old radio broadcasts? In particular, I am trying to determine whether it would be more cost effective to license the broadcasts in question, or to record similar broadcasts from scratch.

Having lived on the fringe of the music business for a while, I have a passing familiarity with the various associations and licenses involved with music - are their similar 'clearing houses' for licensing radio clips, or must one deal directly with each the radio broadcaster? Are there any standard policies as to whether they will license these things, and/or standard licensing rates?

This doesn't seem to be a very common desire, or my google-fu is weak today...

[Tom Sloper]

swiftcoder, on 07 February 2012 - 10:41 PM, said:

_{^{I realise some of this is covered in the FAQ, and that the ultimate answer is 'talk to the license holders and a lawyer'.}}
2. Does anyone here have experience with licensing old radio broadcasts?
3. In particular, I am trying to determine whether it would be more cost effective to license the broadcasts in question, or to record similar broadcasts from scratch.

2. Yes.
3. Cheaper to license. Example: the recording of the live announcement of the Hindenburg disaster (used in Shanghai: Great Moments, 1995). Just get the recording (easier than trying to recreate it).