Fair Use/Pay for Services?

[5M1MUS]

What is the name of your state? California

I am in the process of starting a music publishing company, but also would like to offer my services as a musician to singers who need music for auditions. In many breakdowns, singers are asked to bring music "in the correct key" meaning that if they need it transposed to be higher or lower, then that needs to be printed out and not put upon the accompanist to transpose it in his/her head on the spot. I have the knowledge, the facilities, and the ability to transpose music for people, but I am not sure if this would constitute copyright infringement. I would not be charging people for the printed music, but for my time/services. Would this constitute "fair use"?

 

[divgradcurl]

Transposing the key in sheet music is _probably_ a fair use -- however, the problem lies in you provifing the service. Lots of things that are perfectly legal for someone to do under "fair use" -- for example, making a backup copy of a computer program -- become illegal when someone else does it for someone. So, while it may be perfectly okay for a singer to transpose music that he or she purchased, it may be an illegal reproduction and creation of a derivative work if you do it for him or her. Your best bet would be to talk with an experienced copyright lawyer before providing this service.