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If you are a business owner or manager and are currently playing music in your venues or considering implementing music on hold, you need to be aware that the music you use must be licensed, or it will be considered illegal use of copyrighted music. If caught, you could be facing steep fines or possible legal action. The music industry is coming down hard on businesses that are unaware of or disregard proper licensing of copyrighted music, as is evident by a recent series of crackdowns on over two dozen venues in Seattle who failed to pay royalties on music they were playing.

(ASCAP) The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, says that these venues have been performing copyrighted music without permission. ASCAP is now actively going after local businesses that have not been paying to use copyrighted music. According to their web site any music that is played outside a direct circle of family and friends is considered a public performance; this includes restaurants playing background music or commonly known as in-store music, DJs and music on hold over phone lines.

Fortunately, if you are unwilling or unable to pay expensive music licensing fees but still would like to play music in your venues or implement music on hold, there is a less expensive alternative, Royalty Free Music. Unlike most music licenses, royalty free music only requires a typically low one time fee, and the purchaser is then free to use the music as often and in as many different ways as they like. The majority of music licenses stipulate how the music is to be used, and charge additional fees accordingly. If youre looking for music you can use without being restricted by fussy contracts, you should consider royalty free music.

If youre interested in royalty free music for your music on hold or venues, but are hesitant about the quality and believe popular music is the only way to engage customers you can relax. In addition to being legal and affordable, royalty free music from reputable libraries can be as appealing as any music heard on the radio today. With cutting-edge technology and compositions by talented professional musicians, the quality of royalty free music is on par with popular commercial music.

Because of the rising number of lawsuits being filed by the music industry against those who continue to implement music illegally, and the high cost of synchronization or needledrop licenses, royalty free music is becoming increasingly popular. Its well worth the low fee, particularly if it keeps pricy lawsuits at bay plus it is easy to obtain. Music copyright laws are becoming increasingly more strict and complicated, and it is up to you to keep abreast of and act within these parameters. Pleading ignorance seems to be an unacceptable excuse with performance rights organizations like ASCAP and BMI. If you want to play music and not run afoul of the law seriously consider royalty free music.

One good source for royalty free music with clean and simple licensing terms is Opuzz Royalty Free Music Library, one of the larger independent providers of quality royalty free music.