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 The Old Way: Too High A Price?
Many firms in the funeral service and cemetery industry have decided that music licensing is legally required for their funeral homes, combination operations and other industry businesses where music is performed (either live, played by recording, or in many cases by the receipt of radio transmissions). Music copyright owners take the position that licenses are needed for performances such as music on hold, background music and music performed in gatherings and functions other than religious services.
Failure to obtain a license where one is required can be costly: Copyright law provides for damages similar to fines of up to $30,000 for each song that is infringed. Thus, it often is safer to view music licenses as a necessary cost of doing business in the funeral service profession.
The way to ensure you are covered legally for any music a customer may request is to be licensed with ASCAP, BMI and SESAC. But many funeral home and cemetery owners and managers have told us the cost of obtaining a music license has just been too high for small businesses. Either they had to pay over $500 to obtain licensing directly from the agencies, or else they had to pay nearly $500 - or much more - for a license fee in addition to membership fees required by other organizations. For some, this has meant risking a lawsuit and heavy damages by not purchasing all three licenses - or not purchasing any at all.
The Solution!
ICFA created the Music License Membership category for industry professionals who wish to be in compliance with the law but cannot afford the high cost of licensing the old way. Now, you have another choice!
Your Music License Membership dues of $238 per location includes the combined ASCAP-BMI-SESAC music license for 2005. There are no additional fees for the music license. But the deal gets even better: Because the annual ICFA Music License Membership dues price is based on the current volume discount price break we've negotiated with each of the agencies, the more members we attract, the lower the dues cost will be in future years.
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