Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Music Licensing - ASCAP

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   Hi all,
I've got my own small theatre and we are doing some productions and improv comedy that does not call for music. I've extensively researched getting a license from ASCAP.

I've got a director that will do our first musical, Shout! and I wonder, if I am paying royalties, does that serve as licensing? Do I have to get an ASCAP license?

What has been your experience with this kind of licensing need. By the way, we are small in square footage, so if I wanted to play the public radio I could but the moment I "charge" someone to come in, they say I have to a license.

Thoughts?

Lisa Callsen
The Bubbler Theatre
www.thebubblertheatre.com

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codadiva Walk-On Joined: 4/29/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: Music Licensing - ASCAP - BMI Posted: 2/23/10 at 9:04am
	Hi all, I've got my own small theatre and we are doing some productions and improv comedy that does not call for music. I've extensively researched getting a license from ASCAP. I've got a director that will do our first musical, Shout! and I wonder, if I am paying royalties, does that serve as licensing? Do I have to get an ASCAP license? What has been your experience with this kind of licensing need. By the way, we are small in square footage, so if I wanted to play the public radio I could but the moment I "charge" someone to come in, they say I have to a license. Thoughts? Lisa Callsen The Bubbler Theatre www.thebubblertheatre.com

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JoeMc Celebrity Joined: 3/13/06 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 832	Posted: 2/23/10 at 9:16pm
	Check out your AACT site they have info on ASCAP & royalties;- http://www.aact.org/ascap/index.html ASCAP Agreement Also look at your BMI contract generaly shows that use specific music content from other rights holders, have an inbuilt system to satisfy all rights fees. However as with here, which I believe is much the same there, the playing of music prior, during interval & after the show atracts some form of yearly licence fee for the venue. I know APRA here in Oz every now & then, knocks off a token Hairdressers Salon, by taking them to court & they are fined a few thousand dollars, for playing of a radio or music during business hours. Check with your venue owners they may pay hold a venue licence to cover all hirers. Edited by JoeMc - 2/23/10 at 9:39pm
	[western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!}
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Topic: Music Licensing - ASCAP - BMI( Topic Closed)