Dance Music Business Resource

Harry Fox Agency

http://www.harryfox.com

Primarily known for collecting Mechanical Royalties in the US.

They discontinued Synchronization Licensing in 2002.

HFA licenses the mechanical right, whereas ASCAP, BMI and SESAC license the performance rights. The mechanical right is separate and apart from the performing right. A publisher assigns his public performance rights to one of these societies. HFA represents ASCAP, BMI and SESAC publishers, licensing the right to record their works.

HFA only represents publishing companies, not individual writers. It is primarily of benefit when doing large run releases, to monitor and audit the record company to ensure the monies for Mechanical Royalties are paid correctly.

You might have to deal with HFA if you are doing a cover version (different from Sampling ), as the original composer gets paid for your record company's license to physically manufacture records with that composition on it.

HFA has recently started a one-stop licensing service for ringtones :

Harry Fox, a licensing agency to over 27,000 music publishers representing some 160,000 songwriters, has created a system for instant or "one-stop" electronic licensing for ringtone providers, after about 20 providers approached it to license its works.

http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2116285/mobile-jingles-pennies