Q & A
Each month, MusicBizAdvice.com answers your questions about the music industry.
Public Performance Rights: High School or Dance Performances
Q.
I
understood that if you purchased a CD from the store that you bought certain
rights to playing that music for let's say a dance performance or high
school performance? What are the rights or policies in that situation? -
Thank you. - AB, Pontiac, MI.
A. The information you have is incorrect.
Playing the music at a dance, etc., in most cases constitutes a public
performance. For the most part, purchasing a CD only allows your own,
personal use (like in your own home, in your own car, etc.)--not a public
performance of the music.
There are exceptions, which depend on the type of educational or religious
institution, admission charge, number of attendees, how the music will be
used, etc..
Your best bet is to contact BMI, ASCAP, or SESAC directly and ask them. Each
organization has different policies regarding public performance at schools,
etc., and they have reps available whose job it is to handle exactly those
kinds of questions.
The small print on the CD liner notes detailing the songwriter/publisher
information should say which performing rights organization handles the song
in question. Since there are only 3 performing rights organizations, it will
either say ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC.
If it's not on the CD or in the CD liner notes, you can check the Harry Fox
Organization website or Google the song title and artist with the word
"publisher" or "publishing" and it should come up.
Good luck, and thanks for your question.
Randi Reed
Editor-in-Chief / Founder
MusicBizAdvice.com
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