Music Licensing

In the case of recorded music, the performance rights generally are owned by a performing rights organization. The three largest in the US include the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP); Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI); and SESAC, Inc. Another smaller PRO, Global Music Rights (GMR) is a for-profit agency that was created in 2013.

As such, clubs must obtain a licensing fee to obtain the legal permission required to perform copyrighted music under the US Copyright Law. This includes live music performances and recorded music (like a DJ or the broadcast of subscription music services).

Each organization is separate and distinct and represents different songwriters, composers, publishers and copyright holders, and each organization licenses only the copyrighted works of its own respective affiliated copyright holders. For example, a license with BMI does not grant your club the authorization for the right to use the copyrighted music of SESAC-, ASCAP-, or GMR-represented songwriters, composers, publishers, or copyright holders.

Each club needs to examine their own music usage and determine what licenses would best cover their usage. The Better Business Bureau’s Music in the Marketplace is a good read on this topic.