Do you know there are federal laws event planners should be aware of if they want to use music at a public event? Most people think because they buy their favorite artist’s CD, they have the right to play that CD anywhere they want to, including at an event. However, Federal laws protect all recorded music. Read the legalese on the CD: “Unauthorized copying, lending, public performance and broadcasting prohibited.” That means you. Recording companies, musicians, and songwriters own the copyright, and are entitled to royalties every time the music is performed or played in public.