Building

by lecercle

Question by : Changing sound systems in a building?
Dear Yahoo Answerers,

My boss requested me to change the sound system of one of our restaurants to something more mobile and flexible. I don’t know anything about sound systems, hence I wouldn’t be here. We currently use a system called Usen and have done so for the last 30 years. It is a cable-based service that routinely updates the playlist automatically. This service costs about $ 25 per month, or about $ 300 per year x 30 years = $ 9000! Just to choose music!

Therefore, we’ve been talking about switching to an iPod-based system to access the internet radio. The restaurant already has Hi-fi systems installed in the ceilings but is hooked up to the Usen machine (which looks like an 80′s cable TV hub).

There are several cables involved, one is a regular antenna cable, the power cable, and one labeled impedance, which is a white wire cut near the end to expose 4 smaller colored wires which are clamped into 4 +/- stations.

Basically I want to know how I am able to turn those 4 wires, buy a new system to plug in an iPod.

If there are any pros or knowledgeable people out there please advise. Would be highly appreciative!

Best answer:

Answer by gkk_72
Before you change anything at all make sure your boss knows about ASCAP and BMI. They license the music that is played at your restaurants. I believe the Usen system you now subscribe to takes care of the licensing issues. If you ditch that and hook up a different system and do not pay the licensing fees your boss will get into trouble if he is caught. Make sure he knows that before you do anything.

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/music-licensing.htm

http://www.ascap.com/licensing/

http://www.bmi.com/

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