WineAmerica members save 10% on licensing with ASCAP’s new winery license. To sign up visit ASCAP’s website to register. Be sure to ask for the new winery license and WineAmerica discount. Questions? Contact Tara Good, Vice President, 202-223-5715 or tgood@nullwineamerica.org. Or talk to an ASCAP representative at 1-800-505-4052.
While WIneAmerica does not negotiate music license for our members, we do provide education on music licenses to help our members remain compliant with copyright laws.
ASCAP and WineAmerica are excited to partner together to bring wineries across America a simplified ASCAP winery license agreement. This new license agreement makes it easier and more affordable for your winery to legally use ASCAP music.
The new winery license:
- Lowers the square footage basis for determining license fees for smaller wineries. Wineries up to 3,750 square feet will pay the lowest fees.
- Removes the requirement to purchase separate licenses for different venues on a winery’s property (e.g., tasting room versus restaurant);
- Separates the live music and recorded music options, allowing the winery to choose just one or both;
- Offers a seasonal discount range;
- Provides a special reduced price for wineries under 5,000 gallons a year that host 6 or fewer performances per year.
WineAmerica wants to help wineries understand what music licensing is and when a winery needs to obtain an ASCAP license agreement.
- What is Music Licensing?
According to U.S. copyright law, in order for a business, such as a winery, to use copyrighted music, it must receive advance permission from the music’s copyright owners in the form of a license. In consideration for this license, the copyright owners are entitled to receive a fee for the use of their copyrighted music. Performance rights organizations, such as ASCAP, collect these fees and ensure copyright owners are fairly compensated when their music is used. Learn more…
- When is a Public Performance License Necessary?
When a winery plays copyrighted songs in a public setting, whether in the background (from a CD, iPod or online streaming service) or performed live by a band or DJ, it requires a public performance license. If a winery is playing music in a private setting (e.g, at a private wedding) or the songs being performed are not protected by copyright law (e.g., music in the public domain), then a public performance license is not required. Learn more or contact Tara Good at WineAmerica at tgood@nullwineamerica.org
- Who is ASCAP?
ASCAP is a membership association that operates on a not-for-profit basis and represents more than 600,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers. ASCAP is the only performing rights organization owned and operated by its members. On behalf of its members, ASCAP licenses the public performances of its members’ copyrighted songs made by music users such as wineries, and collects and distributes royalty license fees to its members. Learn more at www.ascap.com
- What Do I Get When I Purchase an ASCAP License Agreement?
An ASCAP blanket license agreement gives you the right to publicly perform at your winery any or all of the ASCAP repertory, which consists of millions of songs and musical compositions written by ASCAP’s more than 600,000 members. By purchasing an ASCAP license, you no longer need to worry about finding and negotiating separate licenses with each and every single ASCAP member. An ASCAP license, however, does not provide rights to music represented by another performing rights organization; in such instances you may want to contact those organizations directly to discuss your licensing needs.
- ASCAP and WineAmerica are Working Together to Make Licensing More Flexible and Affordable for Wineries.
ASCAP and WineAmerica want to ensure that any winery seeking a public performance license is able to obtain one at a reasonable rate. An ASCAP license allows a winery, for a single reasonable annual flat fee, to have access to millions of songs in the ASCAP repertory. The fees are easy to calculate and adjust based on the winery’s size and the way it uses music.
If you have more questions on music licensing, check out ASCAP’s Resource Center for answers.
