The above performing rights societies represent artists and rights holders of published music and recordings (performances) in the USA. They represent these parties both who are US citizens and via their international partners other artists and rights holders located in other countries.
If you play music from the radio, an Internet radio, from a CD that has commercially available music (e.g. chart music, famous bands and artists) then these organisations have been contracted to collect royalties for various uses on behalf of the owners of the music composition and performance (the recording in this case).
So, if you play music of artists and rights holders that they represent, you are liable to pay for the use in commercial environments (but not when playing in your own home) . Purchasing the music in the first place only provides you with the right to use the music for your own personal use.
I’m not here to tell you if this is fair or not, just to explain how copyright in this instance, works.
So how can you avoid these bills hitting your in-tray?
- You can stop playing music from today and need not pay any bills for future time periods. You won’t have the benefits of music in your business anymore but you do have that option.
- You can find a friendly local artist and pay them for music that they agree you can use with no extra performing or compositional rights required to pay (royalty free). The artist will have needed to ensure they have not asigned the rights for collecting royalties for that use in your business to an agency or society. If they have, you will still be liable even if the artist is unclear of the duplication. The risk here is that they subsequently sign an agreement directly to a collection agency or via a record label and you only find out when you get a bill from their collection agency.
- You can continue to use commercially available music in your business and pay the performing rights collection agencies (and more as new collection agencies appear.
- You can use a music for business service such as Melody Pods that includes all licensing and royalty requirements within the service.
The Melody Pods’ service not only provides you the legal right to use our music within your business but we also supply the service to download our music and the app to play directly via your device or via connected speaker systems you have installed in your business. Additionally, you are licensed to connect and play our music on hold systems.
If you would like more advice or ask more questions please get in touch with the form below and we will be pleased to help you.
Please note: If you need the exact legal detail or legal advice on using music assigned to a performing or composition rights society you are best advised to seek legal services. This post is not intended to replace legal advice.
