ASCAP coerces another coffee shop to stop live performances

Michael Campbel · #1 05-20-2010, 07:49 AM

(Short version - ASCAP requires a coffee shop to pay a licensing fee for local bands that play 100% their own music *IN CASE* they accidentally play a cover tune.)

Saw this today http://techdirt.com/articles/20100518/2341299481.shtml .

I know we have some lawyers here; this smacks to me of (at best) killing what could be a vibrant local music scene and at worst illegal. I'd love to hear some comments about it.

Yerf Dog · #2 05-20-2010, 08:04 AM

Happened last week at rehearsal. We were playing a new tune my guitarist had written and before we knew what was going on, we were smack dab in the middle of "CB Song" by The Legendary Shack Shakers.

Oddly we don't even know how to play that tune.

Tampabass · #3 05-20-2010, 08:12 AM

isn't it funny how the recording industry is in such a rush to shoot itself in the foot?
Good thing sales of recorded music are going through the roof in 2010.
(sarcasm intended)

rtslinger · #4 05-20-2010, 08:17 AM

ASCAP requires a coffee shop to pay a licensing fee for local bands.
Well these fees are less than the fines that they would get #1, #2 it would be hard for the Coffee shop to know if a 100% org. band is covering someone else's song on their next cd release it could happen. How many bands when they make their own do their own version of some famous song their way to get there butts some radio play? Tons. with that being said better safe then sorry. And lastly the ASCAP if you make it big are the guys who you want on your side to protect your stuff so it depends on how you look at it. RTS

pklima · #5 05-21-2010, 01:03 AM

Haha, I don't like the kind of people who play strictly originals in coffee houses and I'm not going to go ot of my way to oppose anything that keeps them from playing music. But, yeah, ASCAP is acting like they're a government agency here.

D.A.R.K. · #6 05-21-2010, 01:15 AM

i'm sure ascap has agents everywhere, reporting on every momnpop coffee shop with an open mic.
bmi ftw

phatbass · #7 05-21-2010, 01:22 AM

Just playing Devil's Advocate for a mo'...

Where do these original bands think the money comes from when they get their ASCAP (or BMI, or whoever) money at the end of the year?

Of course, they DO fill out their returns for each gig, right? And they ARE a member of one of the appropriate performing rights organisations, right? And they HAVE registered their songs, right?

And the bit that gets me (quoting the coffee shop owner):

"I'm not paying the bands"

Sorry; he gets no sympathy from me.

pklima · #8 05-21-2010, 02:35 AM

I've got more sympathy for the owner than I do for the bands.

ggunn · #9 05-21-2010, 07:41 AM

I guess it's about that time again - time for another ASCAP/BMI good guy/bad guy debate.

Pass the popcorn, please.