Important Information from the American Association of Museums:

Museums frequently use music in various aspects of their operations, from live concerts and performances for special events to recorded music in galleries, shops, restaurants, or elevators.  In many cases, such public use of music requires the permission of the copyright owner of the musical composition.  To compensate the copyright owner and reduce the risks of legal liability, museums should determine whether it is necessary to obtain a license for their musical performances. With the help of Troy Klyber, Intellectual Property Manager at The Art Institute of Chicago, the AAM Information Center has developed a fact sheet on music licensing in museums. The fact sheet can help museums determine whether it is necessary to obtain a license for their musical performances. The fact sheet can be found at http://www.aam-us.org/upload/Music_Licensing.pdf

AAM is aware that many museums have recently been contacted by BMI, one of the three major performance rights licensing organizations. AAM has no relationship with BMI and has not endorsed its products or the use of AAM's name.