A public performance is not a performance by a live act. Public performances occur when a sound recording is played in a place open to the general public, such as a bar, restaurants, nightclub, or at any place where a substantial number of people might gather, such as a sporting arena. This does not include the “performance” of a sound recording within the extended circles of friends or family.
Public performances also include broadcast and cable television, radio, and any other transmitted “performances” of a sound recording. These sources vary depending on local copyright law in specific territories.