I've just had a reply from Rex Features - a reputable photographic press agency. They have been going for fifty years or so and regularly supply the UK papers here with photos.
Anyway, for me to use one of their copyright owned Kate Bush pictures, such as
without the watermarks or copyright banner of course, would only cost me £125+vat for the front cover or £50 + vat for an inner page.
I say 'only' as I honestly thought it would be £300, £400, maybe even a £1000 for a picture deemed to be exceptionally good!
Now, some thinking to do. I actually like my book cover at the moment, but of course, I see the appeal to the consumer if I could use a picture of Kate Bush that has not been previously used as a book cover (it would appeal to me too).
Hmmm.....thinks....
I suppose it all depends on if some publisher's lawyer gets uppity about it or not.
When you think about it, it's free publicity for them anyway! But it would not be the first time a company has sued some one for, for example, showing a product being used in a music vid, that then gets pixelated over! People are strange!
