Article on BMI enforcement of music licensing for businesses.
Really really long, I had to whittle it down to just a few things. Had to omit more than half of what I wanted to discuss.
While this woman portrays herself as a poor wittle victim who gets intimidated by mean ol’ music cheat bar owners, I’d heard enough accounts of bar owners who’ve been shaken down by goons in suits who wouldn’t take no for an answer at paying up BMI/ASCAP protection fees.
Note, there is no audit of what songs are being played in the establishment if you DO pay up. They only snoop around to see if you have any infracting cuts if you don’t pay. So NONE of your money goes to the artists who you DO play, instead they prorate it based on radio and tv performance nationwide and in your community. Nickelback, Sinatra, Lady Gaga, and The Righteous Brothers are more likely to see your money than Cab Calloway, Billy Joe Shaver, Flaming Lips, or Perez Prado.
There are BMI executives in the article who bring up radio and say “but that music wasn’t free, the radio stations paid...”. Exactly, so why must you also pay BMI for having a radio on in your business (including a mechanic shop)?
They are seeking an ever expanding pool of people who must license the music. The statement is made that you can play that Ryan Adams CD at your private party (even if 500 people attend) but I doubt that is the case when it comes to a wedding DJ spinning at parties. And some scouts (boy? girl?) organization or camp got hit with fees for the campfire songs they were singing (even Happy Birthday is still under license).
I watched the Arcade Fire concert streaming on youtube last night. Before the show they had some interviews with some of the band. One of them started singing a song (In the Air Tonight I believe) and he said I better stop or we will have to pay. Kind of funny, but I think the actual limit is like 2 lines. Pretty ridiculous.
no property right left unattacked.
My favorite part: “I actually had a guy that I called the other day,” Baker told me, “and when I asked when he might be sending in his check, he said: ‘I don’t know, why don’t you call Obama? Ask him! He runs everything now.’
A good glimpse of the anger that’s out there. There is hardly any conversation in America without the Obama name coming up. He’s on top of people’s minds. People can’t seem to be able to wait until November. The massacre in November will be worse that most people think.