Legal Question - playing out Bootlegs and Reworks

Home :: General Discussion :: Legal Question - playing out Bootlegs and ReworksReply
Legal Question - playing out Bootlegs and Reworks
Posted on: 07.11.2013 by Margaretta Hebenstreit
Hey guys
got a question about playing tracks (especially reworks/bootlegs) in my DJ sets that are not released and nowhere to be bought nor made downloadable by the artist.
am i allowed to "pirate" tracks like these and play them out? or is that illegal?
just to be said, i buy all of my tracks or download them from the official artist's soundcloud-accounts or sites, i never play any pirated music.

talking about tracks like for example this:
https://soundcloud.com/adriatique/major-lazer-get-free

any advice appreciated
Horacio Stranathan
09.11.2013
Originally Posted by DJRavine
Most legitimate evening clubs and venues out there will have a license which allows them to play music in a commercial environment. It's a blanket license that essentially lets you play anything you want. Just go for it.
This is correct. All commercial venues pay a licensing fee for the music. In Canada, even at weddings you pay what we call a SOCAN fee, which is the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers. This license is required for all events regarding music style, whether it be a evening club or a live event. The price is determined by the type of establishment or event, how long it is open throughout the year, and capacity. So they pretty much cover their arses when it comes to Music.
Oretha Afful
09.11.2013
Originally Posted by deevey
That depends who happens to be at the venue, and dj's HAVE been sued in the past, sure in a local disco bar its unlikely, but if it was a semi-highend club, dodgy.

Where it comes to sound cloud, artists have the option of making a track downloadable for the very reason of avoiding piracy of an unreleased track.

If they make a track stream only I would not consider ripping it. (1) Plain bad manners (2) IS illegal (3) Sound quality would suck anyhow.

If they make a track downloadable though (which requires extra mouse clicks after upload), sure I'd play it as they made the effort to share it to the world.
If you're playing at a high end club you would't be asking this question. You wouldn't be worried about playing pirated music either.
If you play a streamed track that is not available for download you're just a bad DJ anyways.

Who has been sued for playing an unreleased track? link me an article please.
Rolanda Clodfelder
09.11.2013
Originally Posted by donstone
Just play it, you're not gonna get sued, you're not gonna get arrested.
That depends who happens to be at the venue, and dj's HAVE been sued in the past, sure in a local disco bar its unlikely, but if it was a semi-highend club, dodgy.

Where it comes to sound cloud, artists have the option of making a track downloadable for the very reason of avoiding piracy of an unreleased track.

If they make a track stream only I would not consider ripping it. (1) Plain bad manners (2) IS illegal (3) Sound quality would suck anyhow.

If they make a track downloadable though (which requires extra mouse clicks after upload), sure I'd play it as they made the effort to share it to the world.
Oretha Afful
08.11.2013
Originally Posted by Patch
Play whatever you want, and never concern yourselves with the legality of it.

Your soul with thank you, and your brain will thank you for not dwelling on such ridiculous thoughts!
Seriously. I have never thought once about the legality of playing a song and I've been djing for 15 years.
Pretty much every DJ out there is pirating music even if they say they're not. Just play it, you're not gonna get sued, you're not gonna get arrested.

Chances are the song you're so worried about will be released in a week and then forgotten about forever in 2 weeks so do whatever you want with the music!
Augustine Mitzen
08.11.2013
Originally Posted by Patch
I believe I understand the question a bit better now that I've visited the SC link.

The remix that the SC page owner has made is NOT downloadable - so you're asking if you can "pirate" it so that you can own that remix, right? Record it from SC, and then play it out, right?

Again, I'd say if you want to you should - but recording from soundcloud is not advisable. You won't be able to get a very good quality rip of it.

Now, if you e-mail the SC page owner and ask nicely, he/she may be happy enough to send you a d/l link to a high quality (.wav/320kbps .mp3) version. No harm in dropping them an e-mail and asking.

And, then, if they give you a d/l, play it wherever the hell you want!
nah man

that's more like it
Lannie Kutay
08.11.2013
Originally Posted by Volpe
Guys i'm not asking if i can play remixes and stuff that i downloaded directly from an artists page, the question is can i play a track thats not released and not for free download and i guess i cant since i would have to "pirate" that track...
Thanks for your replies anyway
We'll I'm not sure how your getting these tracks then???

If you can download it.....than it's released in some form. Even if it's a bootleg off YouTube.

Electronic music has become a VERY grey area there, which is good for Dj's because no one has a definitive answer.
Joesph Kasian
08.11.2013
Originally Posted by antifmradio
Since you get it from the artist, then you should ask if you can use it in a mix.

if you get it from an online shop, then yes, its released. It cant be SOLD online unless its authorized to do so and with that, its a release
This is incorrect - since when does an artist put a free track up on their website/soundcloud/portals and then request every single person that downloads it contact them to ask them if they can play it?

The guy is asking if he can play out free tracks he gets from official pages, which he can.
Margaretta Hebenstreit
07.11.2013		Hey guys
got a question about playing tracks (especially reworks/bootlegs) in my DJ sets that are not released and nowhere to be bought nor made downloadable by the artist.
am i allowed to "pirate" tracks like these and play them out? or is that illegal?
just to be said, i buy all of my tracks or download them from the official artist's soundcloud-accounts or sites, i never play any pirated music.

talking about tracks like for example this:
https://soundcloud.com/adriatique/major-lazer-get-free

any advice appreciated
Horacio Stranathan
09.11.2013
Originally Posted by DJRavine
Most legitimate evening clubs and venues out there will have a license which allows them to play music in a commercial environment. It's a blanket license that essentially lets you play anything you want. Just go for it.
This is correct. All commercial venues pay a licensing fee for the music. In Canada, even at weddings you pay what we call a SOCAN fee, which is the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers. This license is required for all events regarding music style, whether it be a evening club or a live event. The price is determined by the type of establishment or event, how long it is open throughout the year, and capacity. So they pretty much cover their arses when it comes to Music.
Caroyln Jermain
09.11.2013		Most legitimate evening clubs and venues out there will have a license which allows them to play music in a commercial environment. It's a blanket license that essentially lets you play anything you want. Just go for it.
Oretha Afful
09.11.2013
Originally Posted by deevey
That depends who happens to be at the venue, and dj's HAVE been sued in the past, sure in a local disco bar its unlikely, but if it was a semi-highend club, dodgy.

Where it comes to sound cloud, artists have the option of making a track downloadable for the very reason of avoiding piracy of an unreleased track.

If they make a track stream only I would not consider ripping it. (1) Plain bad manners (2) IS illegal (3) Sound quality would suck anyhow.

If they make a track downloadable though (which requires extra mouse clicks after upload), sure I'd play it as they made the effort to share it to the world.
If you're playing at a high end club you would't be asking this question. You wouldn't be worried about playing pirated music either.
If you play a streamed track that is not available for download you're just a bad DJ anyways.

Who has been sued for playing an unreleased track? link me an article please.
Rolanda Clodfelder
09.11.2013
Originally Posted by donstone
Just play it, you're not gonna get sued, you're not gonna get arrested.
That depends who happens to be at the venue, and dj's HAVE been sued in the past, sure in a local disco bar its unlikely, but if it was a semi-highend club, dodgy.

Where it comes to sound cloud, artists have the option of making a track downloadable for the very reason of avoiding piracy of an unreleased track.

If they make a track stream only I would not consider ripping it. (1) Plain bad manners (2) IS illegal (3) Sound quality would suck anyhow.

If they make a track downloadable though (which requires extra mouse clicks after upload), sure I'd play it as they made the effort to share it to the world.
Oretha Afful
08.11.2013
Originally Posted by Patch
Play whatever you want, and never concern yourselves with the legality of it.

Your soul with thank you, and your brain will thank you for not dwelling on such ridiculous thoughts!
Seriously. I have never thought once about the legality of playing a song and I've been djing for 15 years.
Pretty much every DJ out there is pirating music even if they say they're not. Just play it, you're not gonna get sued, you're not gonna get arrested.

Chances are the song you're so worried about will be released in a week and then forgotten about forever in 2 weeks so do whatever you want with the music!
Margaretta Hebenstreit
09.11.2013		Dropped a message to the remixer, let's hope for the best
Thanks for your replies all
And yeah, i'm not a fan of ripping stuff from soundcloud/youtube either
Augustine Mitzen
08.11.2013
Originally Posted by Patch
I believe I understand the question a bit better now that I've visited the SC link.

The remix that the SC page owner has made is NOT downloadable - so you're asking if you can "pirate" it so that you can own that remix, right? Record it from SC, and then play it out, right?

Again, I'd say if you want to you should - but recording from soundcloud is not advisable. You won't be able to get a very good quality rip of it.

Now, if you e-mail the SC page owner and ask nicely, he/she may be happy enough to send you a d/l link to a high quality (.wav/320kbps .mp3) version. No harm in dropping them an e-mail and asking.

And, then, if they give you a d/l, play it wherever the hell you want!
nah man

that's more like it
Lannie Kutay
08.11.2013		Ahhh i see, my fault. I just assumed we were dealing in 320 I forgot about rips.
Brunilda Kora
08.11.2013		I believe I understand the question a bit better now that I've visited the SC link.

The remix that the SC page owner has made is NOT downloadable - so you're asking if you can "pirate" it so that you can own that remix, right? Record it from SC, and then play it out, right?

Again, I'd say if you want to you should - but recording from soundcloud is not advisable. You won't be able to get a very good quality rip of it.

Now, if you e-mail the SC page owner and ask nicely, he/she may be happy enough to send you a d/l link to a high quality (.wav/320kbps .mp3) version. No harm in dropping them an e-mail and asking.

And, then, if they give you a d/l, play it wherever the hell you want!
Lannie Kutay
08.11.2013
Originally Posted by Volpe
Guys i'm not asking if i can play remixes and stuff that i downloaded directly from an artists page, the question is can i play a track thats not released and not for free download and i guess i cant since i would have to "pirate" that track...
Thanks for your replies anyway
We'll I'm not sure how your getting these tracks then???

If you can download it.....than it's released in some form. Even if it's a bootleg off YouTube.

Electronic music has become a VERY grey area there, which is good for Dj's because no one has a definitive answer.
Brunilda Kora
08.11.2013
Originally Posted by me
Play whatever you want, and never concern yourselves with the legality of it.

Your soul with thank you, and your brain will thank you for not dwelling on such ridiculous thoughts!
Margaretta Hebenstreit
08.11.2013		Guys i'm not asking if i can play remixes and stuff that i downloaded directly from an artists page, the question is can i play a track thats not released and not for free download and i guess i cant since i would have to "pirate" that track...
Thanks for your replies anyway
Lannie Kutay
08.11.2013		Producers put their stuff on soundcloud pages for one reason....FOR DJ'S TO PLAY THE STUFF OUT!!!

Producers want dj's to break in tracks in clubs before the track is released.

Have we forgotten how it works?? Nightclubs pay royalties anyway, so it really doesn't matter, they are paying for you to play whatever you want.
Brunilda Kora
08.11.2013		Play whatever you want, and never concern yourselves with the legality of it.

Your soul with thank you, and your brain will thank you for not dwelling on such ridiculous thoughts!
Joesph Kasian
08.11.2013
Originally Posted by antifmradio
Since you get it from the artist, then you should ask if you can use it in a mix.

if you get it from an online shop, then yes, its released. It cant be SOLD online unless its authorized to do so and with that, its a release
This is incorrect - since when does an artist put a free track up on their website/soundcloud/portals and then request every single person that downloads it contact them to ask them if they can play it?

The guy is asking if he can play out free tracks he gets from official pages, which he can.
Joesph Kasian
08.11.2013		Yes mate, you can play anything out - most DJs play special edits, bootlegs, live mash-ups or unreleased remixes. Don't worry about it.
Margaretta Hebenstreit
08.11.2013		Thanks for your help and sorry about the confusion.
What i am trying to say is that i get my music either from beatport, traxsource, itunes etc or if it's an unreleased tune i get it directly from the artists soundcloud IF there is a "free download" button. I never use any sites which let sou download tracks from soundcloud that aren't for free download, yet i know it's possible.
Sometimes i find tunes that cannot be downloaded officialy neither be bought somewhere. I add these tracks to my soundcloud favorites and wait for them to be released. For some reasons this doesn't always happen (like with the track i posted) so i'm asking if it was legal if i WOULD download that track via another source.
Apparently it's not, so there's not much i can do about it.
I wrote a msg to the artist on soundcloud, just hoping they will respond now
Ty again
Libbie Orion
07.11.2013		it doesnt add up Volpe
dont get me wrong but you said you get the tracks from the "Artists sound cloud page"
and or you buy them from online shops.

If they arent released then yes its a pirate track once you "SEND" it. And by sending it you are either
broadcasting it
filesharing it
passing out a mix with it

the action is basically the song leaving your posession and going elsewhere. (SEND)

but later in your comment youre letting us know you never play any pirated music.
Again dont get me wrong. Im not trying to call you out but i dont believe you understand the legitimacy of playing unreleased music
or maybe you dont quite get the differance between "unreleased and still legal for use (vs) pirated music"

there actually is a big differance

Since you get it from the artist, then you should ask if you can use it in a mix.

if you get it from an online shop, then yes, its released. It cant be SOLD online unless its authorized to do so and with that, its a release

<< Back to General DiscussionReply

Copyright 2012-2023
DJRANKINGS.ORG n.g.o.
Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan

Created by Ajaxel CMS

Terms & Privacy