Use of music for online talent show

[tunethony]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Pennsylvania

If I conducted an online contest similar to American Idol where people sent in videos of themselves singing songs (such as covers of Springsteen or the Rolling Stones for example), would I be allowed to post them to the contest web site?

 

[justalayman]

would you be allowed?


who would stop you?


can you be sued? yep.

 

[tunethony]

Thanks, justalayman.

Let me be more clear. Do I need to pay an organization such as ASCAP in order to post on a web site contestants performing copyrighted songs?

 

[FlyingRon]

You need to meet several issues.

You need to pay ASCAP (or BMI or SESAC as appropriate) for the performance rights for the particular song. They have special internet licenses in a couple of flavors depending on just what you are doing.

If you allow some sort of download rather than non-interactive streaming you may owe the mechanicals as well.