Use of Copyright

Using song lyrics in a novel is a dangerous proposition unless you are using work in the public domain. Using copyright stuff is fine if you are willing to pay. In one of my books, I quoted "The Jayhawks", "The Cowboy Junkies" and "Aimee Mann". I am an enthusiastic fan of each. I registered interest before the novel was published and agreed to a 0.6 percent share with each publisher. It is fine if you agree beforehand.

Many authors do not know how these things work but your publisher will make sure everything is legitimate. If you are self-published the contracts are long and full of deliverables, I would not accept any of them. I would avoid using anything that is copyright. I do it in my self-published books.

Strangely and beyond legalese if you have the permission of the artist, you need pay nothing. "Michael Moorcock" gave me permission to use some of his books and song lyrics a long time ago. I still have rights to them even though he sent me a scribbled postcard stating so. Lol- he was probably drunk.

I have carte blanche, in an odd way, but would never do anything to hurt his trust in me.