You can find three types of songs in Jamzone:
Shows: chords + lyrics + rhythmic grid + waveform
This is final level of completion of songs in Jamzone.
Shows: lyrics + rhythmic grid + waveform
These are the songs for which we’ve not yet identified and synced the chords. They show a text warning in the player until it turns into a Full Title. When you buy a Pending Title it automatically gets to our to-do list to identify the chords and sync the video. Completion time varies with the volume of demand.
Shows: rhythmic grid + waveform
These are the songs we only have the right to distribute as audio-only. We cannot display the chords and lyrics scrolling along with the music in the player. Some songs from some artists (like Eagles or Pink Floyd) are concerned. They are indicated a text warning before and after it is purchased. You can still use all other features.
<aside> đź’¬ From user Paulie Felice:
When you perform a song publicly, you generally need to secure performance rights. These rights are managed by Performance Rights Organizations (PROs) like ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC in the U.S. These organizations collect royalties on behalf of songwriters and publishers when their music is performed publicly, whether live or broadcast. For example, venues where live music is performed usually pay a blanket license fee to these PROs, which then distribute royalties to the music creators based on the usage of their music.
To record a song that someone else wrote and release it (e.g., on an album, online, or through any medium that reproduces sound), you need a mechanical license. This license allows you to reproduce and distribute a copyrighted song in a recorded format. In the U.S., these licenses can often be obtained through The Harry Fox Agency, or directly from the publisher. The current statutory rate set by the U.S. Copyright Office determines the royalty per copy manufactured and sold. Publishing the lyrics or chords of a song in written form, such as in a songbook, instructional book, or online, requires securing print rights from the publisher of the song. This is a separate right from performance or mechanical rights and involves negotiating directly with the copyright holder or their representative. Royalties or a lump-sum payment are usually negotiated depending on the extent of the use and the potential sales of the printed material.
This is the situation you've described with the JamZone app, where some songs have lyrics and chords displayed and others don’t due to restrictions from rights owners, and it highlights an interesting aspect of music copyright management. When it comes to displaying lyrics and chords, the rights to do so are typically held by the music publishers who manage the songwriting copyrights. These rights include the authority over the reproduction of lyrics and chords in written or displayed form, which is considered a part of the song's "musical composition." The reasons why a rights holder might not authorize the display of lyrics and chords can vary. Sometimes, the rights holders have exclusive agreements with other platforms or publishers that restrict the display of lyrics and chords to certain services. By restricting displays on apps like JamZone, they ensure that their agreements with other parties, who might be paying for exclusive rights, are not violated. Also, rights holders often want to maintain strict control over how their content is distributed to protect the song’s integrity and ensure it is used in ways that align with their interests or the image they wish to project.
There could also be specific legal or contractual stipulations that come into play based on how the music was originally written, recorded, or published, which might restrict certain uses. It's a complex business with lots of moving parts!
You can refer to the [Ari Herstand](https://www.facebook.com/groups/439638451124616/user/100046944588019/?__cft__[0]=AZWW87vqjphnrljrvUVLg1DhwxOYXXc9wQgXfqzROvp1E6yJOMj7wwUl848Q_55dWfCJFa4uK2AWmKma1AV7NOPP33IFvE4QJDHd3vrSjP7uXYfWpEhEX9pvgmCIM7K41Mqq6N5LLnA1eEy0sFHWpsMtRrcmBxhkMXhRS9z_9cjaiA&__tn__=R]-R)’s book called “making it in the new music business” to go further on the topic.
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This information is also displayed on the Song Info Panel (read more on: Browsing our catalog)