Hey guys! Aloha! I'm not sure if I'm in the right place/forum for this question, but maybe some one can point me in the right direction. I am currently "gigging" at a Farmer's Market here in Hawaii. The manager's of the market had said that if I have a CD of my own, I could sell it in addition to the tips. I don't have any originals to record, but just do "cover's" of Hawaiian songs. Some of the Hawaiian songs date back to the late 1800's so I'm pretty sure those songs ar "Public Domain", but the question I have, is:
"How do I find out if I have to pay royalties to record the songs, and how much do I need to pay?, and who or what agency is in charge of that kind of thing?"
I'm just an amateur that loves to play ukulele and sing Hawaiian and local contemporary songs, but have had a lot of people ask me if I have a CD out so they can buy it. Most of my songs are of the popular "tourist' type of songs that would remind them of their visit to Hawaii, but they're not "MY" songs, these are songs from an era that was a happier, carefree time of a generation before I was born. Waikiki now looks like Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills with all these designer stores like Luis Vuitton, Coach, Tods, Salvatore Ferragamo, Tiffiny's, Bulgari... etc. I play music made popular by Don Ho, Kui Lee, Buddy Fo and the Invitations, and other entertainers from decades earlier.
Just wondering since I'm not really a "Professional" although I DO get paid a "stipend" for playing at the Farmer's market.
Clayton