“Tonight, I want all of you tonight. Give me everything, tonight. For all we know, we might not get tomorrow. Let’s do it tonight.”  “Give Me Everything,” by Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo is currently one of the top 40 charted singles in the U.S., but for all of those small business owners, retail store chains and hospitality environments playing copyrighted music without a licensing company, it spells out trouble.

Within the last year, 38 lawsuits have been filed all over the states against restaurants, cafes, pubs, spas, hotels, bars, clubs, lounges and stores for illegally playing background music. Businesses currently using Rhapsody, Napster, Pandora, Sirius XM and personal iPods to provide background music for their businesses are not legally covered, and may end up with $30,000+ lawsuits and $10,000+ in attorneys’ fees.

Only wanting to improve the atmosphere, mood and surrounding of their establishments with the right type of music, many business owners are unaware of the correct procedures and laws that are associated with playing copyrighted music in an open, public space. Lawsuits may turn up as easy as if a licensing company hires people to enter a business and recording the music being played.

To avoid copyright infringement and piracy, Prescriptive Music, the industry’s leader inbranded music services and trusted by some of the world’s most powerful company brands to enhance the overall experience and impact of their business, creates background playlists only through legally played customized music. Stealing background music is the same as stealing products and services from a business– it’s illegal and unethical. Get licensed.