Comments on: Royalty Collecting Groups’ Fees Shutter Open Mic Venues

By: Taylor

Taylor — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 07:37:43 +0000

Hi Im a member of ASCAP. Does anyone know where I can get an opt out agreement so I can be a part of other promotions that don’t have to pay royalies to ASCAP. I want it to say Im going to do another promotion and I don’t want ASCAP to chase the royalites. I want to do a direct license.
Thanks in advance.
Taylor
gon4myn@hotmail.com

By: James

James — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:44:42 +0000

I see this becoming just another form of “insurance”….insurance against possible lost sales from people listening to copyright music being played live.

After all, your required to have car insurance, *just incase* you get in an accident, and many other forms of insurance thereof, this is just the logical progression of that sort of thinking.

Kind of makes me sick thinking about it actually. As people are fond of mentioning…it’s a slippery slope.

By: Angry John Doe

Angry John Doe — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:43:34 +0000

Only goes to prove that when something goes the way of multinational businesses then the origin of that something gets prostituted beyond recognition. Imagine J S. Bach today… The problem is the DMCA bill, it’s bad law that needs to be reformed or scrapped in the context of a broader copyright reform that protects intellectual property while preserving freedom, creativity and innovation.

By: Angry John Doe

Angry John Doe — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:40:03 +0000

Only goes to prove that when something goes the way of multinational businesses then the origin of that something gets prostituted beyond recognition. Imagine J S. Bach today…

By: Patricia Shannon

Patricia Shannon — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:17:57 +0000

It’s not just businesses that they are going after.
ASCAP is trying to make Lena’s Place Coffeehouse pay a huge licensing fee despite the fact that every dime rec’d goes directly to local charities. No one is making any profit.
Lena’s Place is a local, monthly coffeehouse in Atlanta, run by a church. They ask for a $5 donation, but let you in if you can’t afford it.

As a non-published songwriter, I’m for protecting intellectual property, but I don’t think it should apply to live music at small venues, esp. non-profits.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:13:44 +0000

Waaa waaa, hey RIAA, pound salt LOL.

I can’t wait for the media industry to vanish.

By: Are Royalty Fees Forcing Venues To Close? | Metal Insider

Are Royalty Fees Forcing Venues To Close? | Metal Insider — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:39:49 +0000

[...] seems to be what an article from Web site zeropaid claims*. The site is up in arms about the three music licensing companies, BMI, ASCAP and SESAC, [...]

By: soulxtc

soulxtc — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:38:00 +0000

Of course it’s just a thought, hence “I think that…”

But, it is a glaring example of the shortcomings of current copyright law.

Imagine the thought of authors charging schoolteachers to read books like “The Catcher in the Rye” aloud in class, or poets like Maya Angelou demanding compensation for those that recite her verses in public.

Its nonsense.

By: soulxtc

soulxtc — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:34:13 +0000

That’s the point. Even though most venue’s require artists only play originals the PRO’s are threatening to sue to force them to buy a license “just in case” someone accidentally does.

Its cheaper to shutter the open mic.

By: mountain_rage

mountain_rage — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 08:55:43 +0000

Not yet, although if people pressure politicians enough to change copyright, it may happen. Many people are getting more familiar with copyright laws as they find out how they are destroying many of their rights. Its only a matter of time before society hits a critical mass of protest and the copyright cartel can no longer bribe laws into existence.