Music license?

Question

How does someone go about purchasing a license for a public performance of another artist? Who do you talk to? How much does it cost? Is it a one time fee or a recurring fee? Thanks to anyone who can answer this question.

Answer 1

You do not have to have a license to PERFORM a song copyrighted by someone else. ONLY if you intend to record it yourself and sell. If, for example, you performing on TV or some other recorded venue, you would need to ask permission and pay the songwriter. BUT if its in a public venue, like a bar, you pay nothing. The bar owner pays ASCAP an annual fee to cover this (or at least he is supposed to)