Performing Covers and Copyright Laws
 

What does one have to do to make sure one isn't violating copyright laws when performing covers and charging admission?

You can't be sued just for playing a song

It's trying to sell songs that aren't yours that gets problematic

The people coming to the show are paying to get into the venue, not paying for each individual song that you play, so you're good to go

It's the responsibility of the venue to have the proper licensing to cover the legal requirements. They usually have what's called a "blanket license" and pay a yearly flat fee. Any band or performer playing at the venue is automatically covered via the venue.

You can cover songs and perform them as much as you want. It's distribution of the song you bump into issues. When you distribute music the is owned by someone else, weather it's you performing it or not, is when you bump into legal issues. You have to attain proper licenses from the artist, usually it's from their management, to distribute the song.

Thank you all for answering my question. A friend of mine and I have made a CD of 14 Christian songs we have written. We'd like to go around to Christian churches and gatherings in the area now and do concerts. Would we have any copyright issues if we included a few covers in the performance?

I think the real issue when playing covers at a Christian church would be that no one would care.

There would always be that one.

I do not think so.

No. It's distribution without original artists consent that's illegal.

Nah I think playing covers is technically something you have to pay for no matter the context. I think Psy-Fi is probably the only poster in this thread who isn't a dip****.