Do You Have To Pay A Artist Just To Perform Their Song?

[DogmaticRock]

Not distribute or try to make money off it? I mean, I'd like to do a cover of Shinedowns "I'm Not Alright" or "Amaryllis" and I'm wondering, would I have to spend a fortune just to play it at a club or venue?

[john]

Most bands never contact the song owners... often if you are not making money from it bands would like to know who is playing their songs. Apart from anything else the club owners owe money to the song owners via performing rights laws... meaning if you inform your performing rights organization where you live of your cover songs, those bands get paid from the money that the club pays to performing rights societies in order to play music... so, not only is it a nice courtesy, but by doing it the correct way you will make them money. Incidentally, the same is true for your songs when you perform them... if your songs are registered with the performing rights organization... you as the songowner can be paid by the club via the performing rights org too.....

[seekerofknowledge]

John is well informed and presumably been there? I had three publishing deals over fifteen years, and a songwriter is issued with a CAE number, forms covering songs and compositions handle PRS - the performing rights society and the MCPS - the mechanical-copyright protection society ltd...the first handles performances, radio, stage and all broadcasting angles...the other handles the device known as the record...disc, vinyl and tape....The Musicians Union try to keep a strict watch on where and how it is performed asking venues to fill out a form with titles played...this is more often than not a futile thing in regards to cover bands and pub bands..so in the main their efforts are more with the DJ's on radio frequencies, tours involving bands and exchange acts agreed on contract....other areas are recording studios where a band might be covering a version and have not applied for the licence..which they hope was settled with the other two organisations...so in theory, doing someone's song in a public place with rewards does make you liable to pay commission, even if you have not got the permission....but it is a massive undertaking relying on honesty and respect for someone's intellectual property.