Fault
Hey there everybody. I am looking into getting a Napster subscription, but I really am not sure which to get. Should I get napster or napster to go? ALL i want it for is DJing. I dont want to burn it, to put it on ipods or whatever. I just want to DOWNLOAD UNLIMITED songs, and thats it. I understand I have to keep the subscription going otherwise my songs don't work. THATS FINE. I just want to be able to do unlimited downloads. Can I do that with just the regular $60 a year? Or do I have to get napster to go? Please help, thanks!
Inviato Mon 01 Mar 10 @ 3:49 pm
jakovski
Just a short information for you:
the Napster license do NOT allow you to use the music on gigs and in commercial way. Just for private use !!!
Greets, Heiko
the Napster license do NOT allow you to use the music on gigs and in commercial way. Just for private use !!!
Greets, Heiko
Inviato Mon 01 Mar 10 @ 3:52 pm
Fault
Damn. Thought I was doing something legal. Is there any similar services that do allow for a commercial license?
Inviato Mon 01 Mar 10 @ 4:02 pm
Fault
Im having a hard time finding out about things like this. Even iTunes and Beatport have this same ruling. Some people say the commercial use is specifically related to selling mixtapes etc., such as someone like Girl Talk, the other side says what you said. I took a look at the law, and its incredibly vauge, seeming as though possibly ALL digital djing is illegal. It seems like a very poorly defined law. Is any lawyer able to interpret?
Inviato Mon 01 Mar 10 @ 4:56 pm
jakovski
Fault wrote :
...as though possibly ALL digital djing is illegal. It seems like a very poorly defined law. Is any lawyer able to interpret?
If you buy from Beatport it's a legal thing because they resell a license for the commercial use.
Greets, Heiko
Inviato Mon 01 Mar 10 @ 5:06 pm
Fault
Also in terms of club use, doesnt the club pay for the licensing? From ASCAP or w/e its called? And then along with that, doesnt that law not apply to private events, such as weddings?
Inviato Mon 01 Mar 10 @ 5:20 pm
jakovski
Do not know how this works in USA. In Germany you must pay for normal music and the pay GEMA for the right to public playing. But you must also check the licenses if they allow commercial use. Some of them licenses only for private use.
Greets, Heiko
Greets, Heiko
Inviato Mon 01 Mar 10 @ 5:24 pm
Fault
Someone correct me if I am wrong please:
This is my understanding
Radio Stations have to pay tons of licensing fees to the Federal Communications Commitee. This allows them to legally broadcast a signal. Then they must pay to the ASCAP (american society of composers artists and producers) and other organizations that give money to artists that pay them as their songs are played. Then the RIAA protects the copyright of these artists
Clubs dont (to my knowledge) have to pay to the FCC. They do however have to pay certain fees to the ASCAP and other organizations, a blanket license, so music can be played. This is why at open mic nights at cafes, there isnt SUPPOSED to be any songs that are originally sung by another artist, because it is an establishment making profit off of someone elses work.
Weddings and other private venues do not require any license or fee from the ASCAP, because they are private or personal. I have been reading some law studies on the copyright stuff, and this website said it best: http://community.lawyers.com/forums/t/2754.aspx "I contacted BMI and ASCAP. ASCAP has yet to return my email, but BMI informed me that since wedding receptions aren't considered "public", I am allowed to play whatever music I own, without permission or a license." Ill contact BMI and ASCAP to confirm myself, but according to this article, weddings are not public, therefore, no commercial license is required! Ill contact to confirm though.
I think ill go get my masters in Law btw, then Ill start DJing lol. The rules are crazy here, so poorly defined. In a semi-public place with normal family and social aquantences. WTF does that mean???
Anyway, from what I can tell, its the venues job to control that stuff, not the DJs.
This is my understanding
Radio Stations have to pay tons of licensing fees to the Federal Communications Commitee. This allows them to legally broadcast a signal. Then they must pay to the ASCAP (american society of composers artists and producers) and other organizations that give money to artists that pay them as their songs are played. Then the RIAA protects the copyright of these artists
Clubs dont (to my knowledge) have to pay to the FCC. They do however have to pay certain fees to the ASCAP and other organizations, a blanket license, so music can be played. This is why at open mic nights at cafes, there isnt SUPPOSED to be any songs that are originally sung by another artist, because it is an establishment making profit off of someone elses work.
Weddings and other private venues do not require any license or fee from the ASCAP, because they are private or personal. I have been reading some law studies on the copyright stuff, and this website said it best: http://community.lawyers.com/forums/t/2754.aspx "I contacted BMI and ASCAP. ASCAP has yet to return my email, but BMI informed me that since wedding receptions aren't considered "public", I am allowed to play whatever music I own, without permission or a license." Ill contact BMI and ASCAP to confirm myself, but according to this article, weddings are not public, therefore, no commercial license is required! Ill contact to confirm though.
I think ill go get my masters in Law btw, then Ill start DJing lol. The rules are crazy here, so poorly defined. In a semi-public place with normal family and social aquantences. WTF does that mean???
Anyway, from what I can tell, its the venues job to control that stuff, not the DJs.
Inviato Mon 01 Mar 10 @ 9:33 pm
Fault
Here's the email conversation with BMI:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I want to be a mobile DJ. Please send info about options which would cover playing music at wedding receptions and related gigs, as well as pricing. Thanks!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BMI licenses the public performance of music, not the performer. BMI's license covers the establishment or event which uses music. Therefore, the owner or organizer of the venue would be responsible for securing the proper license. Weddings and other private events are not licensable since they are not considered a public performance of music.
If your plans include reproducing music onto cassettes, CDs, etc., you would require permission from the music publisher(s) for the mechanical rights.
For your convenience, publisher contact information is available on our website at http://www.bmi.com/search/. On the left side you will see a link to our repertoire. This allows you to search for information five ways, by artist, publisher, writer, title and BMI work.
If you need further assistance in locating complete publisher contact information, please contact our Research Department at research@bmi.com. You can also call the BMI repertoire information hotline at 1-800-800-9313 where you can request information on as many as 3 song titles per call.
I trust the above is helpful. Thank you for your interest in BMI.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Okay, now I'm confused. What I'm talking about is playing popular artists' MP3s or CDs as a DJ, not making my own recordings. Basically playing MP3s through the sound system for people to dance to.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you are simply a DJ playing MP3s and CDs at a club or event, you are not required to license with BMI. BMI does not offer a license for DJs.
BMI only licenses the venues that are hosting the DJ, not the DJ themselves. If you offer your services to a restaurant or bar, that establishment is responsible for securing the BMI license.
Weddings , birthday parties, and other private events are not licensable by BMI since they are a not considered a public performance of music.
Hopefully that clarifies my response.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks so much. Wow, I guess being a mobile DJ looks profitable after all. I think I'll do that.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
According to this, a DJ in the US cant be licesnced. BTW BMI is one of the largest music organizations in america
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I want to be a mobile DJ. Please send info about options which would cover playing music at wedding receptions and related gigs, as well as pricing. Thanks!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BMI licenses the public performance of music, not the performer. BMI's license covers the establishment or event which uses music. Therefore, the owner or organizer of the venue would be responsible for securing the proper license. Weddings and other private events are not licensable since they are not considered a public performance of music.
If your plans include reproducing music onto cassettes, CDs, etc., you would require permission from the music publisher(s) for the mechanical rights.
For your convenience, publisher contact information is available on our website at http://www.bmi.com/search/. On the left side you will see a link to our repertoire. This allows you to search for information five ways, by artist, publisher, writer, title and BMI work.
If you need further assistance in locating complete publisher contact information, please contact our Research Department at research@bmi.com. You can also call the BMI repertoire information hotline at 1-800-800-9313 where you can request information on as many as 3 song titles per call.
I trust the above is helpful. Thank you for your interest in BMI.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Okay, now I'm confused. What I'm talking about is playing popular artists' MP3s or CDs as a DJ, not making my own recordings. Basically playing MP3s through the sound system for people to dance to.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you are simply a DJ playing MP3s and CDs at a club or event, you are not required to license with BMI. BMI does not offer a license for DJs.
BMI only licenses the venues that are hosting the DJ, not the DJ themselves. If you offer your services to a restaurant or bar, that establishment is responsible for securing the BMI license.
Weddings , birthday parties, and other private events are not licensable by BMI since they are a not considered a public performance of music.
Hopefully that clarifies my response.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks so much. Wow, I guess being a mobile DJ looks profitable after all. I think I'll do that.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
According to this, a DJ in the US cant be licesnced. BTW BMI is one of the largest music organizations in america
Inviato Mon 01 Mar 10 @ 9:49 pm
DJFresh82
Sounds great, thanks alot for the info. I'm in the USA also. This is something i've been wanting to know for a while, Now I can mobile DJ without having to worry much, it's just the public places, which I did twice. Not sure if the have the ascap licensing, but to my undestanding dept. stores are suppose to have that because of the regular Store music all dept. stores play. Anyone knows if that's correct? SInce it is public an all..
Inviato Tue 02 Mar 10 @ 10:57 pm
Fault
DJFresh82 wrote :
Sounds great, thanks alot for the info. I'm in the USA also. This is something i've been wanting to know for a while, Now I can mobile DJ without having to worry much, it's just the public places, which I did twice. Not sure if the have the ascap licensing, but to my undestanding dept. stores are suppose to have that because of the regular Store music all dept. stores play. Anyone knows if that's correct? SInce it is public an all..
It doesnt matter. Its not your job. Its the event coordinator or venue owners job.
By the way, get NAPSTER TO GO! Napster regular does not allow unlimited free downloads, only to go
Inviato Sat 06 Mar 10 @ 12:56 am