On November 10, 2023, ACDA joined The Ohio State University Department of Dance’s Music Supervisor Susan Chess to led the webinar Introduction to Music Rights addressing the legal requirement for music copyright permissions for performance of dance works. ACDA Board Member and OSU Production Manager Jonathon Hunter provided explanations as well. 

The interest in this topic has been enormous. We have received numerous requests from our membership for this recording in order to share with students, faculty or to rewatch. After many years of batting around the question of music rights, I’m glad that we are digging in with specifics. There will be more information coming soon from ACDA on this topic.

Many dance programs have already adopted procuring music rights as standard procedure for their students and faculty. Many more are exploring how to do so. We appreciate the challenges of both the learning curve and the associated tasks around securing music rights. This is a difficult area. 

The legal requirement for music rights is not new. For many years, registration for a conference or festival has included an agreement that music rights have been secured for every dance performed. ACDA is not requiring proof of rights for performances at regional conferences, trusting the assertion from each school that they have the rights. 

As discussed in the session but still somewhat “wishy-washy” (quoting a participant), there is a distinction between regional conferences and the National Festival. Conferences take place during the academic year while performers are enrolled in classes (face-to-face instruction). Conferences are held in educational institutions. Many conferences keep all performances for conference participants only. Under these circumstances, your legal department may counsel you that your music is covered under your school’s grand rights license.

The National Festival will take place after most semesters/quarters are completed. Performers will not be enrolled in a class (unless you make a special class that includes this time period). Performances will be held in a large professional venue with tickets advertised and sold to the public. ACDA is the presenter and is not an educational institution; we are an association of educational institutions. ACDA must have assurance that each dance performed in National Festival Gala Concerts has obtained all necessary music rights.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Allow three months for the process of obtaining music rights.
  • See the template in the handout for requesting permissions.
• Music rights are not necessarily expensive. They may even be free.
  •  In the recording, Susan advises us not to be afraid to negotiate and to be “shameless” about asking for low or no fee.
• Teaching students how to obtain rights now will prepare them for the professional world.
• Advice for National Festival eligibility: We hope all dances will be eligible for National Festival consideration. If you are unable to secure music rights for some or all of your music, change the music prior to bringing the dance to the regional conference for adjudication, thus ensuring that the dance will be able to be performed in the National Festival if invited.

Obtaining music rights is possible and is not necessarily expensive. But it can take time and perseverance. Be ready for March. Start now!

No doubt there will be more questions and discussions.