Does the purchase price of tapes, CDs and mp3s cover the right to play them in my business?
When you purchase a record, tape, CD or mp3 the purchase price covers your private listening right only. Once you decide to play these in public – such as in a restaurant, bar, café or telephone music-on-hold service – it becomes a “public performance.” The copyright owners of musical works have the exclusive right of public performance. Therefore, any public performances by others require permission. That’s where BMI comes in. To learn more about the rights of songwriters, click here. With a BMI Music Performance Agreement, you’ll be entitled to use any BMI-affiliated music.
