It should be noted that a performance can infringe on copyrights though. If you cover a song, even in a much different way at any venue that charges a cover, t

It should be noted that a performance can infringe on copyrights though. If you cover a song, even in a much different way at any venue that charges a cover, that venue or the artist is obligated to pay royalties. Not unsurprisingly, many low-budget all-ages venues have been hit hard by lawyers from ASCAP for amounts that would put them out of business. I know a few venues I went to as a teenager had a very, very strict "no covers" policy, as ASCAP went so far as to hire people to visit the 100 person venue and listen for cover songs, and then send a bill for the annual license to the venue if they heard them. I think the annual license was somewhere on the order of 5-6k or for a venue of that size.