How to Request Rights for Karaoke Songs

If you are planning on operating a karaoke machine in public, it is essential that you obtain proper licensing in order to avoid legal repercussions. According to Musicforlicensing.net, you must obtain public performance rights, mechanical rights, synchronization rights and printed rights.

Things You'll Need

• Computer (MAC or PC)
• Internet Access
• Money for license fees

Instructions

Gathering the Proper Forms

1. Turn on your computer, access your Internet and go to the ASCAP website, Ascap.com. (See references.)

2. Click on the "Need a license" link once you're on the ASCAP site.

3. Fill out the "Request Licensing Information" form once you click on the "Need a license" link. Be sure to indicate that you need public performance rights, mechanical rights, synchronization rights and printed rights for various songs in the description section of the form.

4. Click on the submit button once you are done filling out the "Request Licensing Information" form.

5. Make note of the contact info on Ascap.com in case you want to contact ASCAP by phone for further information.

Tips & Warnings

• According to Musicforlicensing.net, the karaoke machine manufacturer should pay for the mechanical, synchronization and print royalties. The renter or owner of the karaoke establishment should pay for the public performance rights.

• You need public performance rights because your karaoke machine will be playing songs to every person in a public setting.

• Karaoke machines have chips, CDs and DVDs embedded in them so you need mechanical rights.

• Karaoke machine also exploit lyrics publicly so that's why you need the printed rights.

• Karaoke music will be played on a television with visual background and, thus, you need synchronization rights.

• According to Ascap.com, you may not find certain songs on their website because ASCAP may not represent those particular songs. Songs not represented by ASCAP should be found on the National Music Publishers' Association "Songfile" website (http://www.nmpa.org). That website will provide you with a contact from the publishers' Business Affairs or Licensing Department.

• Use ASCAP's Clearance Express (ACE) to find out who is the publisher of a particular song.

• After filling out the "Request Licensing Information" form, a representative from ASCAP will contact you about requesting rights for your entire karaoke catalog.

References

• "ASCAP: The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers:" Customer Licensees Request Licensing Information
• "Music for License:" Licensing Music in Karaoke Machine Businesses
• "The National Music Publishers' Association:" About NMPA