DISQUS

newcritics: ‘I Want to Thank all the People at my Label…’

  • Jason Chervokas · 1 year ago
    Correct me if I'm wrog, but record companies don't have any claim against bands playing covers, only publishing companies do. Record labels might have a claim on jukebox plays.

    This reminds me of the time one of the licensing agencies went after the girl scouts or the campfire girls on unpaid royalties on camp songs or when they put on a show.

    Then again, if peformance, not recording, is going to producing an increasing share of music biz revenue, I can understand publishers' interest.

    Of course, the idea that they could present you w/ an unitemized lump sum bill then threaten legal action is a pure shakedown.
  • Tony Alva · 1 year ago
    He showed me the "bill" and all the mumbo-jumbo said was that based on their estimates, BMI was owed $3000 and something about his case being in "pre-legal" status. Now, he has no jukebox on premise, but does use a subscription music service for which he pays a commecial fee to pump it through his PA system between acts (My first thought was that they're gigging him for re-broadcasting music over the house).

    The "pre-legal" thing is what really sets me off. This is the part that tells me this is nothing but an extortion tactic. He's pals with all the other venue and club owner's within a couple of blocks and apparently they all got these notices too.

    It's unbeleiveable what it's all come to...
  • Viscount LaCarte · 1 year ago
    I like your suggestion.

    By the way, I live in East Cobb, almost in Roswell. Never really get to play anymore because my job keeps me on the road for weeks at a time. Just thought I'd let you know we're neighbors.
  • David Halsted · 1 year ago
    Oh, it gets much worse. The British equivalent of the RIAA is suing a chain of garages in Scotland for letting employees listen to the radio at work. They want royalties plus damages.