WHERE IS LICENSING OBTAINED FOR A 501(c)(3) CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION TO
USE IN A MUSICAL REVUE FUNDRAISING EVENT FOR HOMELESS CENTERS IN
WAUKRGAN, IL? THE EVENT IS TO BE HELD IN A 2,000 SEAT HIGH SCHOOL
AUDITOREUM WITH $30,000 IN RECEIPTS ANTICIPATED. THERE ARE 20 AMERICAN
POPULAR MUSIC SONGS FROM THE 1940S TO 1980, NO MORE THAN ONE FROM ANY
INDIVIDUAL SHOW. WHERE CAN THE RULES FOR PERFORMANCE RIGHTS FOR THIS
TYPE EVENT AND FEE ESTIMATE BE PROCURED?

Hello garyp~

Although it might seem that charity organizations should get breaks on
performance fees, you shouldn?t expect any kind of monetary break.
Charities are almost always charged the same amount as anyone else.

Musical revues or cabaret-type shows (which are nothing more than a
collection of songs, perhaps with a little dialogue in-between, but no
plot) usually don?t require permission. Given your description of the
event, I doubt you really need to seek performance rights. However, I
am not a lawyer (although I've been involved at almost every level of
theatre and cabaret for over 20 years), so you might want to check out
?blanket rights? through ASCAP and BMI, which represent artists and
collect performance fees for them.

BMI may be found at http://www.bmi.com/

And ASCAP at: http://www.ascap.com/index.html

Please note that gaining permission at BMI will not cover artists
represented by ASCAP, and vice versa. So do check out both
organizations. To see what songs ASCAP covers, go to this page on
their website: http://www.ascap.com/ace/  At BMI, go to
ttp://www.bmi.com/search

Fees vary according to song and composers, but for an idea of what it
generally costs for performance rights, check out ?Mechanical
Reproduction Right, Public Performance Right, and Grand Rights? by 
Harten Shield:

http://www.hartenshield.com/rights.html#public_performance

You might also find this article, ?How To Put on a Musical: Low Cost
Options,? by John Kenrick, Musicals 101:
http://www.musicals101.com/puton2.htm

Break a leg!
Kriswrite

KEYWORDS USED:
"performance rights" charity
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"performance rights" music charity
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=%22performance+rights%22+music+charity&btnG=Google+Search

"performance rights" musical review
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=%22performance+rights%22+musical+review+&spell=1

Having sung with a chorus that has been extremely ethical about those
matters, typically purchasing the music (one copy for each singer)
gives the group the right to perform the music.  If that is not the
case, typically there is a large disclaimer on the music discussing
that fact.

As a rule, possession of the music is the permission.  So, if you can
find a source where you can borrow the music, you can give the
performance without further payment.  You might check high school and
college music departments for loans.  Remember--one copy of an
original score per singer.

Most popular songs have been arranged for choruses, and can be
purchased separately from any of the stage play sources.  Currently a
popular song that takes up about 6 pages is running in the $2/copy
range; a good music store can help there.

Out-of-print music is always a nuisance.  The copyright still is in
force, and you must discuss with the publisher how to pay for the
music.  Often they will allow you to copy the music (with a statement
"copied with permission of the publisher") along with payment of a
royalty.  Allow LOTS AND LOTS of time for correspondence.

The official answer left out an important point.  If no one is being
paid for their work on this revue -- all of your performers and
organizers are volunteers -- then the event is legally a "benefit" and
you do not need to seek permission or compensate copyright holders in
any way.

Actually, one should not assume that because everyone is not being
paid and the money raised is going for charity that rights do not need
to be paid for.

Regards,
Kriswrite