Dear Stacey,

AAM put out a fact sheet on this awhile back, as BMI was harassing
everyone.  It is available online at
http://www.aam-us.org/upload/Music_Licensing.pdf

As you'll see, there are a number of exceptions for music licensing that are
relevant for museums.  If your museum has legal counsel, you should probably
consult with them, and use AAM's fact sheet as a guide.

One thing is clear, however -- playing music in your store, from cds you
sell, is a-okay.

Kaia


On Wed, Dec 3, 2008 at 12:29 PM, Stacey <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>  Hi, all
>
> I did look at the Museum-L archives and found a few postings about some
> upcoming webinars or workshops about music licensing that I think occurred
> over the summer and I'm wondering if the results or summaries of them exist
> anywhere or if anyone that might have attended can share?
>
> Since about 3 or so months ago we've been hounded by ASCAP who is becoming
> increasingly insistent that we sign up for their museum music licensing
> agreement, which will cost us over $700 annually. I'm getting mailings,
> emails and phone messages.  I'm not aware that we are violating any
> music/copyright laws, nor have they complained about any particular
> violation.  The music we play in the store is strictly limited to CD's that
> we sell, which I understand is perfectly legit.  We have permission to play
> whatever videos we have in our galleries or, if we have the occasional live
> performance, we then pay the appropriate fees to the performer.
>
> I also understand that BMI has done this to some museums...so what's to
> prevent another agency from insisting that we sign up with them?  We can't
> afford these annual fees...and I'm loathe to sign up once, because I feel at
> that point I've obligated us to annual fees forever...
>
> Thoughts?  Materials to share?
>
> Stacey Otte
> Executive Director
> Catalina Island Museum
> History's never been this much fun!
>
> http://www.CatalinaMuseum.org <http://www.catalinamuseum.org/>
> **
>  This communication and any accompanying document(s) is intended only for
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>
>

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