Performance Rights

Performance rights are licenses that give the copyright owner the right to receive royalties for their song to be performed, recorded or live, in a public place or on the radio, television or on the Internet.

Theses rights are granted by Performance Rights Organizations like ASCAP, BMI & SESAC who pay the copyright owner for the use of their compositions.

The Performance Rights Organizations grant the licenses and collect payments for use of a songwriter's musical composition. The owner of the copyright is paid by these organizations for any use their songs on radio, television, in clubs, restaurants, elevators, retail stores, colleges, etc.

Mechanical Rights

Mechanical rights are granted to reproduce a song on CD or tape and sell those reproduced copies to the public. For any sales of those CD's or tapes, a mechanical royalty must be paid to the owner of the copyright.

Compulsory Licenses

When a recording has been lawfully made with the permission of the copyright owner, anyone else then has the right to make another recording of that work provided they pay the statutory royalties to the copyright owner. The copyright owner, however, can deny permission to anyone seeking to make the first recording of their work.

Synchronization Licenses

When a song is used for the soundtrack of a film or for television, it is referred to as a "synchronization" and a "synch license" must be obtained from the owner of the music being used.

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