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In the past, opening a mobile DJ service required a substantial investment in a comprehensive music library.
The investment required to obtain these libraries far exceeded the cost of the sound equipment by about three to one.
Since the advent of MP3' files and file sharing technology over the internet, the cost of obtaining the necessary library
has been reduced to almost nothing. But is it legal?
Computers are the best way to bring thousands of songs to your event without hauling hundreds of CD's.
The governing agency overseeing copyright infringement and illegal downloads is the R.I.A.A., (the Recording Industry
Association of America).
For years the R.I.A.A. has turned a blind eye to the mobile DJ industry as copyright infringement was next to impossible
to determine because mobile DJ's were mobile and the R.I.A.A. really never knew where to check.
With significantly reduced startup cost there has been an explosion of new DJ companies and now the R.I.A.A. has taken
a renewed interest in the mobile DJ industry.
In 2006 the R.I.A.A. announced an aggressive new plan to crack down on unscrupulous DJ's who do not want to pay for their
music.
The plan is to first establish whether the DJ being investigated actually has a legal copy being used in a computerized
system (we don't really know how they intend to do that?).
If they find that the computer library is not legal they intend to raid the DJ at an event, confiscate his or her equipment
right there in front of everyone, ending the party dead in its tracks and causing as much public humiliation as possible.
They want to send their message loud and clear! Piracy charges would then be filed against the DJ company effectively putting
the company out of business. This would be a disaster for the consumer and the DJ company.
Rumors abound, so we decided to call the legal counsel of the R.I.A.A. to verify. We spoke with the lead investigator
for the association and found out that it's not just a rumor, it's true.
The R.I.A.A.'s plan of action mutes the ethical debate over file sharing and music downloading and brings DJ companies
into the arena of high liability. Chances are you won't get caught, but do you really want to take the risk?
What this means to the customer is that now, for the first time since the invention of MP3's and internet file sharing,
you have to be concerned with the legality of your DJ's computerized MP3 library.
Chrysler Entertainment has invested over $22,000.00 in a legal CD library consisting of 1533 original CD's highlighting
1046 artists and 20,754 individual tracks.
We buy our CD's just like anyone else and we don't get a discount for being in the business.
We meticulously maintain a data base of our entire library and we have an open vault policy for any interested party who
wants to come and see the library for themselves.
We're not sure if the R.I.A.A. is really going to act on their threat, but we really don't care. Our library is 100%
legal and your party is safe with us.
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