Can I perform music by someone else?

Question

legally can i perform music by someone else until mine is ready. I know not to say i wrote theirs, but can i still use it in public?

Answer 1

yeah i believe so.
they are called "covers"

Answer 2

"The right to perform or play a song in public is one of the exclusive rights of the copyright holder. You will need to get permission or a license if you play music in public unless the music is in the Public Domain or the use of the music qualifies as fair use. But the line between what is private and what is public is complicated. Prior to the Music Licensing Act in 1998, some court cases have drawn the line and declared public uses of music to be copyright infringement unless licensed, as follows:
Radio stations, bars, night clubs, and juke box operators;
Hotels that play the radio for guests through speakers or headphones; Restaurants; Stores; Telephone intercom systems that play music while callers are on hold... Public places that play CDs or hire live musicians (that play cover songs or copy songs) are still subject to being licensed for fees."

I think it depends on the venue.

Answer 3

Sometimes its specified on the sheet music of a song that you can't do this, but realistically I have never heard of someone not being able to play a song in public by someone else.

Answer 4

You have to pay royalties to do this. I believe the organizations ASCAP and SESAC handle this. I know they handle restaurants and others playing music.

Talk to an appropriate lawyer. You want to make sure you are covered on this. This is not the sort of question you want to let Yahoo! Answers have the final say on.