I'm hoping to use a short quotation from a Cat Stevens lyric as the epigraph to a novel that's shortly to be published with Bluechrome. The problem is this: who do I ask - and no doubt, pay - for permission to do this? Presumably the record company, but the websites for these (the song was originally published by Island Records, and has now passed to A&M) aren't excactly email friendly. Unless you are buying from them they don't seem to accept, and certainly don't answer, queries.
Is there another way of setting about this? Such a thing as a database to tell you who to contact for artist's permissions? Any suggestions, anyone?

Does his personal website list his agent? You may get further by phoning, too, than by email - it's harder for them to give you the brush-off if you're there, saying, 'Thank you, so who should I contact, then?'

Emma

If they have a postal address mail your query to them and mark it: Legal/Copyright Department. Someone in their mailroom will know who to pass it on to.

And this is a database of copyright contacts for who owns what rights:

http://tyler.hrc.utexas.edu//

Emma