Let's all cast "Rumours: The Movie"

[michelej1]

For a movie, even if you aren’t using the original recording and re-record, you still need permission.

Stevie could re-record SS without Fleetwood Mac’s permission and sell just the audio, but she couldn’t put it in a movie without the copyright owner’s permission. FM could put it in a movie without her permission and she’d get royalties as the writer. Of course, I recognize that she is part of Fleetwood Mac, so obviously she’s going to be involved in the decision. But there was a time when that was not the case.

What you CAN do without permission is audio and a live performance (but you can’t sell a dvd of that live performance without permission) like a concert. For that, you just pay ASCAP, BMI, etc and that gives you a blanket right to use it.