Legal Question in Business Law in Minnesota

Excellent question.

You need to be sure that you license the music � every song � properly for performance through the licensing agency/ies that control the license for the music.

Contact BMI ( www.bmi.com ), ASCAP ( www.ascap.com ), and/or the Harry Fox Agency ( www.harryfox.com ) to determine the licensing requirements of each piece of music you plan to play.

I know; this sounds like a LOT of trouble and expense to just play a few songs. However, these agencies have their spies out everywhere; if an agency spy walks into your establishment and hears an unlicensed piece playing over which that agency has licensing control, you can absolutely expect at least a cease-and-desist letter, and possibly a lawsuit for copyright infringement. That lawsuit makes the licensing fees you'll pay to play the music look like chump change.

THIS POST CONTAINS GENERAL INFORMATION AND IS INTENDED FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY. IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE LEGAL ADVICE, NOR DOES IT CREATE ANY ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP. FOR LEGAL ADVICE ON YOUR PARTICULAR MATTER, CONSULT YOUR ATTORNEY.