New Streaming Service Available: SiriusXM for Business Russound is proud to announce the immediate availability of SiriusXM for Business on all of its streaming media products: MCA-­‐88X (Requires Firmware Version 2.00.12 or Higher) DMS-­‐3.1 (Requires Firmware Version 7.01.03 or Higher) X5 (Requires Firmware Version 3.01.3 or Higher) SiriusXM for Business is an ideal solution for all commercial installations where music will be played for a public audience. As you may be aware, playing music for the public is subject to a large number of legal provisions related to US Copyright law. Most music purchased either through downloads or on CD’s is only licensed for personal use. Business owners are liable for any violations that occur in their businesses and many of these business owners may not even be aware of these requirements. As a custom installation professional making recommendations for an audio system to be used in a business such as a bar, restaurant, health club, coffee shop, etc, you can offer your customers a valuable service by educating them on the requirements and also by making a simple recommendation to easily provide their business with the right music choice for them and their customers. There are currently three major music licensing companies in the US who can license a song for playing to a public audience. They are ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC. Each of them has their own unique catalog of songs and to use a song from their particular catalog will require a licensing agreement that can involve expensive monthly fees as well as complex reporting of the exact songs played. SiriusXM for Business has simplified this process by allowing businesses a simple way to play properly licensed music to their customers without a heavy expense and without any complicated reporting. SiriusXM for Business can be added for only $360 a year per account. SiriusXM handles all of the licensing/reporting with ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC so that a business owner doesn’t have to do it. By using a dedicated commercial service like SiriusXM for Business, many companies will have access to all of the content their business needs, at an affordable price, and with no further reporting requirements. Benefits Hassle-­‐free – Forget the complicated reporting and license arrangements with ASCAP, BMI and SESAC. SiriusXM handles all of this automatically so your customers don’t have to do it. Easy Installation – Use Russound’s streaming products that you are already using for your residential installations. Simply configure the SiriusXM accounts on your Russound streaming products using authorized SiriusXM for Business login information. Inexpensive – With plans as low as $29.99 per month, adding licensed music for any business has just become an easy decision. Variety – Over 100 total channels available and a selection of 30 channels that are DJ and Interruption-­‐
free, exclusive to SiriusXM for Business customers. Examples of Commercial Installations perfect for Russound/SiriusXM for Business Dental Offices Retail Shops Attorneys' Offices Banks Gas Stations Shopping Centers Bars Health and Fitness Centers Yoga Studios Bowling Alleys Massage Studios YMCA's Clothing Boutiques Medical Offices Coffee Shops Museums Convenience Stores Music-­‐On-­‐Hold systems for any business Country Clubs Nightclubs Dance Studios Restaurants Frequently Asked Questions Why do businesses need a separate service? Can’t they just play the regular SiriusXM, Spotify, Pandora, TuneIn, or vTuner services that Russound offers or even music from CD’s or a NAS drive? Businesses need a commercial service that manages the licensing requirements for playing copyrighted material in public places. According to US Copyright law, the definition of a public performance of copyrighted material is “to perform or display it at a place open to the public or at any place where a substantial number of persons outside of a normal circle of a family and its social acquaintances is gathered…” (17 U.S.C. §101). The purchase of a CD/MP3 or audio download of a song doesn’t give anyone the right to use the song for a public performance. Most music is licensed for personal use only. What happens if a business owner plays music and doesn’t use a licensed service or pay for ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC fees? SESAC has a good explanation for this: A business owner who “publicly performs any copyrighted song without proper authorization” is “breaking the law and can be held liable for damage from a minimum of $750 up to a maximum of $150,000 per song played!” Are there exceptions to these requirements? Yes, there are some limited exceptions involving the type of business, size of the space where the performance occurs, the number of loudspeakers used, etc. The three licensing organizations’ websites shown below, as well as the US Copyright Office, explain this information and if there is any uncertainty about whether one of your business customers is exempt, we recommend that you urge the business owner to consult with an attorney for confirmation. What organizations handle licensing of music like this? The three main licensing organizations in the US are ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC. Each organization has their own licensing structures, reporting requirements, etc. Business owners are free to negotiate separate agreements with each of these entities or even, difficult as it may be, with individual copyright holders for the music they wish to perform publicly. Where can I learn more about this? Each of the licensing organizations above has some explanations about copyright law, their music portfolios and their specific licensing programs, requirements and pricing. ASCAP – www.ascap.com BMI – www.bmi.com SESAC – www.sesac.com Where can I learn more about SiriusXM for Business? The main website is www.siriusxm.com/siriusxmforbusiness. You can also contact the SiriusXM customer support team with any questions or to sign up for this great new service at 1-­‐866-­‐345-­‐7474.