US copyright law considers a performance of a work to be a copy that must be authorized by the copyright holder. For example, a songwriter is entitled to royalt

US copyright law considers a performance of a work to be a copy that must be authorized by the copyright holder. For example, a songwriter is entitled to royalties if an orchestra plays the song, and singing Happy Birthday at a birthday party is illegal but you're allowed to hum it (the tune is out of copyright, the lyrics are not), and that is why restaurants have invented their own birthday songs. Back to the subject at hand, the playing of a recording for an audience has been considered a performance since recordings were first invented, so it's illegal whether you're on an oil rig or not. If the rig is in international waters, the story might be different.