For digital services, what rights must be secured to play music?

For digital services, what rights must be secured to play music?

• A. Public performance license only.
• B. Appropriate streaming or broadcast rights.
• C. Synchronization license only.
• D. Mechanical license only.

Answer: (B)

Digital services that play music must have permission to deliver the music over the internet, i.e., the right to stream or broadcast it to listeners. This is the permission that specifically covers online transmission of the sound recording and the underlying composition to the public. In practice, that means securing streaming rights for the master recording (from the rights holder) and public performance rights for the composition (usually via a publisher or PRO). The synchronization license is only needed if the music is combined with visual media, and a mechanical license governs making copies or downloads, not streaming. So, the essential requirement for playing music on digital services is the appropriate streaming or broadcast rights.

Digital services that play music must have permission to deliver the music over the internet, i.e., the right to stream or broadcast it to listeners. This is the permission that specifically covers online transmission of the sound recording and the underlying composition to the public. In practice, that means securing streaming rights for the master recording (from the rights holder) and public performance rights for the composition (usually via a publisher or PRO). The synchronization license is only needed if the music is combined with visual media, and a mechanical license governs making copies or downloads, not streaming. So, the essential requirement for playing music on digital services is the appropriate streaming or broadcast rights.