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’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.<<
I know one of those bar owners. The Ascap guy literally pounded his fist on the counter demanding that she fork over - are you ready for this - $800 a month!
She only has “originals” bands and this far has refused. It’s been about two years.