Actually, the DJs kinda do need a license. The venues they perform at often have a BMI or ASCAP license so they don't have to. But I was DJing at a place that

Actually, the DJs kinda do need a license. The venues they perform at often have a BMI or ASCAP license so they don't have to. But I was DJing at a place that didn't have one. Employer got sued and had to pay up. 1976 copyright act says "no public performance." This is actually what they cited in the Aereo case too.