[P-Marlowe]

Petty is just grandstanding to keep his liberal creds. There isn't a damn thing he can do about anyone using his music for public performance as long as they pay the licensing fee. Bachmann might not be able to use the song in a campaign ad, but she can use it as a theme at public events.

Once you license your song to BMI or ASCAP, you get the benefit of the performance fees, but you lose the right to control who or under what circumstances someone else can use your song.

[Melas]

Once you license your song to BMI or ASCAP, you get the benefit of the performance fees, but you lose the right to control who or under what circumstances someone else can use your song.

I've been trying to correct this misconception on the this thread. A performance license is not required for a political campaign. Since it falls under commercial use, you'll need a master use license, even if it's not aired.

I've run into this personally, for sales events. The form will ask for the square footage of venue, estimated number of attendees, etc etc. There is always a magic number which is lower than you'd think (low thousands) that says "Master Use License Required" followed by contact information.

[Brilliant]

Yeah, but you don’t know he licensed it to BMI. And you don’t know they paid the license fee. People using music and not paying the license fee is a problem that is endemic. If she did, then all she’s gotta do is say, “Hey, I paid the license fee. If he won’t let me use it, then he’s in breach of contract.”

Most likely, the truth is somewhere between what you say and I say. In any event, it’s a tiny matter. Not a big issue.