Library Dance Party with Music

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  • A large Newspaper partners w my library for different talks on different topics- the last one was about the tech boom, the nexr one is about Food, etc. This large newspaper would like to have program/dance party feauturing all the great songs about California. 

     

    What are the copyright implications surrounding an event like this. Do we need to get a license?

    thanks!

  • I think you would need to get a public performance license from BMI or ASCAP.  I'll forward to music librarians for more details. 

  • More from a music librarian:

    1. does the school alreday have a license for public performances OR 2. is the work a non-dramatic literary work.

    You want to play California style songs which is music without an narrative so maybe 110(4) applies: 

    "(4) performance of a nondramatic literary or musical work otherwise than in a transmission to the public, without any purpose of direct or indirect commercial advantage and without payment of any fee or other compensation for the performance to any of its performers, promoters, or organizers, if—

    (A) there is no direct or indirect admission charge; or

    (B) the proceeds, after deducting the reasonable costs of producing the performance, are used exclusively for educational, religious, or charitable purposes and not for private financial gain, except where the copyright owner has served notice of objection to the performance under the following conditions:

    (i) the notice shall be in writing and signed by the copyright owner or such owner’s duly authorized agent; and

    (ii) the notice shall be served on the person responsible for the performance at least seven days before the date of the performance, and shall state the reasons for the objection; and

    (iii) the notice shall comply, in form, content, and manner of service, with requirements that the Register of Copyrights shall prescribe by regulation;"

     

    I think this is a good argument for playing the music without a license. 

    Thanks to Eric for the extra expertise!

     

    Carrie

     

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