As someone who teaches copyright, the issue of free or not is totally irrelevant. The rules for copyrighted music would be the same as the rules for copyrighted movies. 

https://www.bmi.com/faq/entry/what_is_a_public_performance_of_music_and_what_is_the_performing_right1#:~:text=A%20%E2%80%9Cpublic%20performance%E2%80%9D%20of%20music,providers%2C%20and%20any%20other%20means.
The source below gives places where 

https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/royalty-free-background-music
The source below gives sources for royalty free music including the Internet Archives.

https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/royalty-free-background-music 

I hope this helps.

Bob

Robert P. Holley

Professor Emeritus, Wayne State University

13303 Borgman Avenue

Huntington Woods, MI  48070-1005

email: aa3805@wayne.edu

phone: 248-547-0306

From: Michlib-l <michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org> on behalf of Teresa Natzke via Michlib-l <michlib-l@mcls.org>
Sent: Wednesday, August 2, 2023 1:48 PM
To: Steven K. Bowers <sbowers@tln.lib.mi.us>; Steven K. Bowers <sbowers@tln.org>
Cc: Michlib-L <michlib-l@mail3.mcls.org>
Subject: Re: [Michlib-l] Public Playing of Music
 

[EXTERNAL]

We have always had musicians come to our library and I have never heard of or acquired a license for these events.


From: "Michlib-l" <michlib-l@mcls.org>
To: "Michlib-L" <michlib-l@mail3.mcls.org>
Sent: Wednesday, August 2, 2023 1:38:12 PM
Subject: [Michlib-l] Public Playing of Music

Hello everyone,

I am hoping someone has a quick and easy answer. We have a library with an event this Saturday and they intend to play music publicly. There municipality has just informed them that they need a license to so so, similar to showing a public movie. It was the library's understanding that as a non-profit they did not have to have a license since it is a free event and they are not profiting from using the music.


So, my question, do all of you assume you can play music at events without a license, or do you get the license? The library is fine to do the latter but doesn't want to get a license if it is unnecessary.

Thanks for any feedback you may have. Time is of the essence!

Sincerely,

-Steve


Steven K. Bowers
Executive Director
The Library Network
(248) 536-3100 x107
sbowers@tln.org
(he/him/his)

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