Currently, the
word is "Big Brother" is actively and aggressively phoning
businesses in search of illegal practice of playing non-licensed music
On-Hold. At Powers Productions we use only fully, legally licensed
music that will save you over having to license "commerical"
music on your own.
While we are not judging you, as a courtesy we do want to inform you
about the myth that it's ok to play CDs from home and local Radio
Stations for your clients while holding without further licensing.
Should you be contacted by ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC, call Powers Productions
immediately at 702.868.7676. We can solve further problems for you
right away. Note that Powers Productions utilizes music properly and
legally licensed in our On Hold productions as well as any of our
radio, TV, industrial and corporate productions, through the publisher
and, ASCAP and BMI.
We've included these Iinks for you to check out your responsibility
to license music on your own and to learn more about current copyright
laws, hopefully saving you from paying a stiff fine and dealing with
a cease & desist order. Click any of the links below to read the
complete article and statement. |
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Better
Business Bureau - "Music in the Marketplace - Why Businesses 'PAY TO PLAY' "
[excerpt]
"Many businesses are often surprised and skeptical
when representatives of performing rights licensing organizations
inform them that they need to "pay to play."
[and]
"...offices and stores that use “music
on hold” for telephone customers..."
[and]
"WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON’T GET A LICENSE?
The cost of performing copyrighted musical works without a license can be far greater than the cost of the license. Failure to obtain a license to perform publicly copyrighted music is copyright infringement under the copyright law. The copyright infringer is subject to a civil suit in federal court. Sanctions against an infringer can include an injunction and the copyright owner’s actual damages, as well as the infringer’s profits, or “statutory damages” of up to $30,000 for each copyrighted song performed without a license (up to $150,000 if the infringement is willful). The infringer can also be required to pay the copyright owners’ legal fees. The law further provides for criminal sanctions against those who willfully infringe on a copyright for commercial advantage or private gain."
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ASCAP
- (look for) "What ASCAP Licenses"
[excerpt]
"Music on hold makes
the time you are on hold pass more quickly and pleasantly..."
[and]
"Those are all public performances. Business
owners recognize that because music so strongly affects people,
it can also help make their business successful. And, like other
products, music is not free." |
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BMI
- "Business Using Music on Hold"
[excerpt]
Songwriters, composers, and music publishers have the exclusive
right of public performance of their musical works under the U.S.
copyright law. Therefore, any public performance requires permission
from the copyright owner - or BMI - if it is BMI-affiliated music.
With a BMI Music Performance Agreement, you can publicly perform
all BMI-affiliated music.
[and]
"...the music best suited to help your music-on-hold
create a winning atmosphere for your business..." |
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