All my knowledge and learning tells me that, indeed, Harry Fox is the right place for compulsory licenses, unless the song is not registered with them, in which case, try direct to the publisher ( listed on the lead sheet or CD, but it might be transferred so check on the BMI or ASCAP site for the current publisher.)

I once wanted to do this, and contacted the publisher, and the publisher referred me to Harry Fox. Go figure. What harry fox is going to do is ask you what the initial CD pressing is going to be, and charge you for the stat rate, up front, on that. If you don't know, I think the default is 1000 copies ( so about 90 bucks or so ) . If it's not for CD, but for sync licensing, you'll need permission from the copyright holder ( and I believe you can copyright the arrangement, as long as the copyright excludes the original music from the copyright --- so only the additional notes in your arrangment not covered by the original copyright, are yours to copyright, and it is called a derivative copyright ). I believe PRO royalties and sync license fee go to the composer, so about all you could make is a master use license fee , no ascap/bmi royalties on arrangements. But, I'm not sure, I could be wrong. If it's public domain, the above is moot.

Keep us posted, I'm curious.

Last edited by pathardy; 03/26/16 09:04 AM.