How to License a DJ Mix

DJs must obtain proper permission before using copyrighted music in their performances.

DJs don't have to worry about creating music, just mixing other people's music in an appealing way. However, that doesn't disentangle them from intellectual copyright laws affected the music they are spinning. Like radio stations and bands performing cover songs, DJs must pay the owners of the original copyright both when performing mixes live and when recording original mixes.

Instructions

1. Find out who holds copyright on the music you want to play, as royalties for copyrights must be played for public performances. Expect the owners of the copyright to vary greatly depending on what type of music you are playing and how many tracks by different artists you are spinning.

   The holder of the copyright for the recording can be found in the liner notes to the album you purchased or in the accompanying information of the MP3 you downloaded.

   If the music you are playing is from an artist signed to a major label, it's likely that the copyright is administered by one of the biggest three performance-rights organizations --- the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Broadcast Music Incorporated and the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers.

2. Secure permission to perform the music from the copyright holder. This can be done either by contacting the individual artist or contacting the copyright administrator. Contacting the artist is most easily done by contacting her business management.

   Profit performance-rights organizations typically offer deals to play all the songs on their copyright lists. Some nightclubs already have set up such deals with the copyright administration organizations so DJs will not have to worry about securing permission to play to material publicly by themselves.

3. Get permission of the copyright holder to release the music on a mix album that is sold for profit. This is a separate arrangement from being able to perform the music live.

Tips & Warnings

• Less famous artists will be more likely to let you mix their songs in public or feature them on a mix album, as it helps promote their music.

• You don't get to decide whether mixing an artist's music in public or putting a track on a mix album is promoting the artist. Instead this is a decision for the copyright holder to make, so ask instead of risking potential legal trouble.

• Remember that copyright violations are against the law and are punishable in criminal and civil court.

References

• Brad Templetons: 10 Big Myths about copyright explained
• RestaurantNews.com: 21 Nightclubs, Bars and Restaurants Named in ASCAP Music Infringement Actions
• Seattle Times: Music licensing group's targets include local restaurants