Setting up a mini-radio station.

April 8, 2007 7:46 AM

How do I, as an individual, obtain permission to play commercial CDs in a makeshift jukebox?

Let's say I wanted to build a computer jukebox for residents of a managed care facilities (ie: a commercial venue). I might have some 30 to 40 CDs of music people of their era prefer. I own the CDs ... what exactly do I have to do to get permission to legally play these CDs? I'm assuming I'd be paying royalties, though I'm not quite sure how it would work (or if it would be cost effective). Who do I approach? Would I need to keep logs?

Anything else you can add that I haven't thought of would be muchly appreciated.

posted by RavinDave to Law & Government (5 answers total)

You need to contact ASCAP.

It's a very short answer, but that's the organization you pay for a license to play music in a commercial setting.
posted by Malor at 7:59 AM on April 8, 2007

You will require a customer license from ASCAP. Check out: ASCAP GENERAL MUSIC LICENSING -- (Nightclubs, Restaurants, Concerts, Hotels, Businesses, etc.)
posted by ericb at 7:59 AM on April 8, 2007

Or, what Malor said!
posted by ericb at 7:59 AM on April 8, 2007

BTW -- check out this related AskMe thread.
posted by ericb at 8:05 AM on April 8, 2007

There's also BMI and SESAC in addition to ASCAP who collect royalties. Depending on which organization each of the 30-40 artists are a member, you are obliged to pay them each. Some jukeboxes [patron accessible coin-operated machines] can be covered by all three of the organizations by paying through the JLO. That doesn't seem fit your circumstance. You'll probably have to contact all three [although SESAC has a smaller % of the market, so you might not have any other their members].
posted by yeti at 10:37 AM on April 8, 2007