Why does an Internet or Wireless service need an ASCAP license?
The United States Copyright Law grants owners of copyrighted musical works — in our case, ASCAP’s individual members — the exclusive right to perform such works publicly. This means that the public performance of such works by others requires authorization from the copyright owners or their licensing representative such as ASCAP. To perform a work “publicly” means, among other things, to transmit or otherwise communicate a performance of the work to the public. This includes Internet or wireless transmissions of music. Just as you pay for use of other forms of property, you must also pay for the use of musical property owned by the more than 390,000 songwriter, composer and publisher members of ASCAP. Our members have authorized ASCAP to license their copyrighted musical works on their behalf. ASCAP also represents and collects license fees on behalf of the members of many affiliated foreign performing rights organizations.
The United States Copyright Law grants owners of copyrighted musical works — in our case, ASCAP’s individual members — the exclusive right to perform such works publicly. This means that the public performance of such works by others requires authorization from the copyright owners or their licensing representative such as ASCAP. To perform a work “publicly” means, among other things, to transmit or otherwise communicate a performance of the work to the public. This includes Internet or wireless transmissions of music. Just as you pay for use of other forms of property, you must also pay for the use of musical property owned by the more than 400,000 songwriter, composer and publisher members of ASCAP. Our members have authorized ASCAP to license their copyrighted musical works on their behalf. ASCAP also represents and collects license fees on behalf of the members of many affiliated foreign performing rights organizations.
