Event music versus music added in the edit

Music at your event and music added to the video are separate questions. Permission to play a song in a hall does not automatically cover putting it in a film, and a track chosen for the edit needs its own clearance.

What are the three kinds of music?

Most events involve one or more of these. Treat them separately.

The same song can appear in more than one row. A wedding band covering a famous song is a live performance of that song, and the song itself still has its own rights.

Does permission to play music at an event cover the video?

Not automatically. Playing music for guests and capturing it in a recording are different uses, and Malaysian copyright is set by the Copyright Act 1987.

MACP, the music authors’ body, notes that a licence does not automatically stop a takedown if other rights or platform rules are unresolved. So a licence the venue holds is a question to ask, not an answer to assume. Ask the venue, the DJ or the performer what they cover and write down the reply.

How can the sound be recorded?

You have three practical choices. Each changes how much event music ends up in the video.

1. Keep the event sound: the film includes whatever was playing. This is the most natural, and the one that most depends on event permissions.
2. Use the event sound only where it is incidental: for example, a few seconds of background music behind a conversation.
3. Replace the music in the edit: speeches and ceremony audio are kept, and licensed music is placed under the montage.

For speeches and ceremonies, clear audio matters more than the music. Our guide on planning intelligible event audio explains how to keep speech clean, and the event audio brief builder helps you write down your needs. If a song matters to the moment, such as a first dance, say so in your brief.

What about the music added in the edit?

Music added in the edit is chosen by the videographer or by you. It needs a licence for how the film will be used. If you plan to post, advertise or stream, read music permissions for social posts, advertising and livestreams before choosing a track.

Here is an illustrative example, not a client story. At a corporate dinner, a hired band plays for an hour and a playlist plays during dinner.

• The organiser asks the band whether its set may appear in a recording, and in what places.
• The crew records the CEO’s speech cleanly, away from the playlist.
• The highlight film uses licensed music, and keeps only a short clip of the band if permission allows.
• The full speech recording keeps the speech and none of the dinner playlist.

How do permissions shape the recording and the edit?

We plan both around the permissions you collect from the venue, the performers and the music owners. If you need a version without event music, we confirm that for your event.

Rights in the finished video depend on your agreement, as covered in video ownership, usage rights and raw-file delivery. For a wider view of what to settle before filming, see permissions to discuss before filming an event. For a legal question about your event, ask a qualified adviser.

What we confirm for your event

• Whether speech needs to be recorded so it can be used without the background music.
• Whether you need a version without event music, or one with different music.
• That the added music comes from a licensed source, with the licence terms given to you.
• You know who to ask before the band, DJ or performer is recorded.

The filming and publication responsibilities checklist helps you record the answers. To plan coverage with us, see our event videography service.