Good news for salon owners who like to crank up the volume of their favorite radio station. Go ahead. Since the enactment of the Fairness in Music Licensing Amendment in 1999 year, most small businesses—including restaurants, bars, and retail stores and, presumably, nail salons—may play radio or TV music for free. Prior to the passage of this amendment, U.S. copyright law required that most business playing radio or TV broadcasts obtain permission to use that music from the owners of the copyright for each piece of music they played. Beth Hamm, owner of Perfect Pinkies in Naples, Fla., applauds the new law. She says her clients like the background noise and the chatter of the DJs and that she works faster and better when upbeat music is playing.

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