[Hereford Eye]

In commenting on a story I wrote, slindeman observed:Also, you cannot quote lyrics in a story without permission. Song titles are ok, but actual lines from the song must have permission from whomever holds the rights.
I am under the impression that you must provide attribution to the source. Given the attribution, the quotation is perfectly permissible. How far off base am I?

[Dawnstorm]

I'm not an expert, but what I keep hearing is that your publisher will contact the copyrightholder, and that you usually have to not only get permission, but also pay a fee. You're dealing with the recording industry, here. Anyway, your publishers legal department will tell you.

[CrastersBabies]

I'm not an expert, but what I keep hearing is that your publisher will contact the copyrightholder, and that you usually have to not only get permission, but also pay a fee. You're dealing with the recording industry, here. Anyway, your publishers legal department will tell you.

I've been told the same thing. I think you can quote things before a certain time period (1930's? anyone?)

As much as I love some lyrics to use in a story, I always end up having to take them out if I want it published. I usually try to make up my own that may run along the same "spirit" and "emotion" as the song I want to use.

[Hereford Eye]

Dang, I would have thought the attribution would act like free advertising for the song. Shows how far off base us old people can be.
Guess I'll stick to pre-20th century poetry.

[KatG]

You definitely have to get a legal permission, and usually it does involve a fee. (There are old songs of course that are in the public domain. If you quote from Bicycle Built for Two, you may be safe.) People do quote song lyrics on blogs and such, and I think they've given up on chasing that mostly, but if you're publishing a story somewhere, it's usually required. Those who own rights to a song make a fair amount of income off of the sale of printed sheet music with lyrics and a lesser extent performance fees (which is why restaurants make up birthday songs instead of sing Happy Birthday,) so even if you're using a tiny part of the song, they consider it infringement.