I represent the Milken Archive of American Jewish Music, a non-profit >> project dedicated to preserving and disseminating music of the American >> Jewish experience. A summary is attached. The website is: >> www.milkenarchive.org >> >> My question relates to historical recordings of Jewish music (cantorial, >> Klezmer, Yiddish, etc.) that were issued in the period 1905 - 1952 on the >> following labels: >> Banner >> Brunswick >> Cardinal >> Deluxe >> Edison >> Emerson >> Pathe Actuelle >> Sterling >> Sun >> United Hebrew Disc and Record Co. >> Vocalion >> Zon-O-Phone >> The Milken Archive owns quality digital transfers of 60+ Jewish music >> recordings that were originally issued on these labels, and the Archive >> would like to commercially reissue these recordings in a legally responsible >> way. I have some documentation about the original records, matrix numbers, >> etc., and I have been attempting to make due diligence searches to find the >> current owners of these recordings. The online resources of the US Copyright >> Office, ARSC, and the CLIR Survey of Reissues of U.S. Recordings have been >> generally helpful. My specific question is whether the current ownership >> status of any/all of the twelve labels listed above is already known, and - >> if so - how I might access that information. Would you be able to advise me, >> or to guide me towards existing reference materials regarding the ownership >> status of these labels? >> >> I have already learned that the Edison recordings are in the public domain. >> But the task of researching the other labels is proving to be quite >> daunting, especially for a non-profit organization with limited staff. If it >> were possible for the Milken Archive to avoid "re-inventing the wheel" in >> pursuing due-diligence, then this would be preferable. Any suggestions you >> might offer would be appreciated. >> >> Thank you for your consideration. >> >> Sincerely yours, >> >> Paul Schwendener >> Artist and Repertoire Adviser >> Milken Archive of American Jewish Music >> [log in to unmask] >> (914) 833 1762