Orrin Hatch: “today I am introducing the Music Licensing Reform Act of 1996: First, to clarify the ``home-style'' exemption provided…”

“today I am introducing the Music Licensing Reform Act of 1996: First, to clarify the ``home-style'' exemption provided by the Copyright Act for the public performance of nondramatic musical works; second, to regularize the commercial relations between the performing rights societies, which license such public performances, and their licensees, who are the proprietors of eating, drinking, and retail establishments, and third, to improve in general the oversight of the licensing practices of the two largest performing rights societies, the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers [ASCAP] and Broadcast Music, Inc. [BMI]. Music licensing has been a matter of discussion for many years. There are strongly held views among all of those involved. I am committed to trying to resolve this matter, and this bill is a good-faith effort to do so. It is my hope that it can serve as a basis for further discussion. Commercial establishments, such as restaurants, bars, and retail stores, make money off of the public performance of musical works, whether it be from live performances, from sound recordings, or from radio and television.”