What are music public performance rights?
One of the rights the copyright law grants to composers is the right to collect royalties for public performances of the music they create. ASCAP, BMI and SESAC license performance rights. For a television station, the public performance right means the right to broadcast music over the air in programming as well as in commercials and promotional and public service announcements. For a restaurant, the public performance right means the right to play music in the restaurant for the diners to hear. For a gym, it can mean the right to play music in the aerobics classes. In all of these instances, music is being performed for public consumption. For further information see the copyright basics page. 6. Doesn’t my network pay for that? Yes and no. If you’re an ABC, CBS, NBC or Univision affiliate, your network has a network license with ASCAP, BMI and SESAC but that license only covers performances of music contained in the network shows. As one of those affiliates you still have plenty of
