Can I sell music without owning the master recording? Please help

[gnr5]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? FL

Hi everyone,

After a bitter breakup from our label, our band wants to continue selling our music on iTunes, etc. We were just informed that our label will close doors this year and with that they will no longer be selling their catalog online. That means, that our albums will not be online for sale. I asked if they would put our album up and still split earnings between band and label and they decline. They simple don't want us to sell our music. Needless to say, they own the master recordings.

What are out options here? With the label going out of business, can I distribute our music without their consent?

We are all the original songwriters, we split publishing 50/50, they own masters.

Thanks.

 

[FlyingRon]

You'll need to read the contract you have that assigned the master rights to them (who has physical possession of the masters is immaterial).

 

[gnr5]

Hi!

Thanks for your response, it states that they own 100% of masters recording.

 

[Dave1952]

If they own the master recording then you can't use that recording without their permission. It's not clear from your post who owns the rights to the songs but it may be possible to record the songs again.

 

[gnr5]

We own the rights to the songs. We could deft. re-record them. My confusion is, if the label doesn't exists anymore, they are going out of business. Who do I need to get permission from?