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Cover band fees

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#42
I didn't make the statement cover band fees because this is a original vs. cover band thing. I just think that if your band is a cover band and you play nothing but, I would like to think the venues that make money off of your entertainment should charge you money to play those songs which in return hands the money over and eventually the original artist gets what's his or hers. That's all. I have many friends in cover and tribute bands. Do I think less of their musical abilities no, do I think everything about the band is a fake no. Like I mentioned before opinions are just that. Did not mean to stir up the pot. I appreciate all the input from everybody. Guess I am the only one that thinks this way. Maybe I should have approached this with questioning hip hop cats sampling others music.
 
#43
10cc said:
I write songs
I play them in front of appreciative audiences
I put out CDs
I finance

So what are you getting at.
Cover bands bite the big one well you said that.
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Then why are even posting your opinions in a thread called "Cover Band fees"? You are not relevent to this conversation since you don't play covers. Go post your opinions in one of the many "cover vs original band" thread.
 
#44
Zooberwerx said:
...Graceland holds the reins on licensing and fees...

...The venues usually cover ASCAP fees...well, at least the cheesey clubs and dives where I perform do...
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I read an article several years ago about the full time staff employed by the Presley estate who's only purpose is to track down and sue people using anything even remotely associated with Elvis and not paying some kind of license fee.

Same here, the clubs around here all pay their fees/dues. It's really up to the local ASCAP rep to insure this happens, so a poor local rep will let a lot of places slide on this.
 
#45
10cc said:
I didn't make the statement cover band fees because this is a original vs. cover band thing. I just think that if your band is a cover band and you play nothing but, I would like to think the venues that make money off of your entertainment should charge you money to play those songs which in return hands the money over and eventually the original artist gets what's his or hers. That's all. I have many friends in cover and tribute bands. Do I think less of their musical abilities no, do I think everything about the band is a fake no. Like I mentioned before opinions are just that. Did not mean to stir up the pot. I appreciate all the input from everybody. Guess I am the only one that thinks this way. Maybe I should have approached this with questioning hip hop cats sampling others music.
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Accounting nightmare...which is why ASCAP is structured the way it is in terms of compensation and surveillance / monitoring. Widely accepted by the industry and venues. The only one complaining is you.

Riis
 
#47
We are lucky here (Canada) too...venues pay and are responsible for ALL fees that are supposed to eventually go to "orig" musicians. There is no harping or whining on what you play.

It's either good or it isn't
People show up or they don't ...period

Everyone wins.
 
#48
JohnMCA72 said:
They just deduct it from what they would have paid an all-original band.
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Any percentage of nothing is always going to be nothing...

As to the actual discussion, the reason the venue pays the fee (and this is true all the way up to stadiums and basketball arenas) is that it covers all instances of a song being played publicly, whether a cover band plays it, or The Rolling Stones play Buddy Holly's Not Fade Away, or the bartender/DJ/Soundguy/whoever puts on an original recording over the sound system, be it a 100,000 watt system or a boom box in the corner.

So let's take the article above... I played for 4 hours one night at this pub in the middle of nowhere whose ASCAP fees are $1500 per year. I played 1/6th of a day so, after some quick math, my band's portion of the fee is $0.68. Let's just call it even for us bringing one extra guy in who ordered a soda and then left...
 
#49
BAN ALL PUBLISHING COPYRIGHT ETC. Perfect solution.

Original, Cover, doesn't matter, no more pay for these things. Then we just have to listen to cry babies about how no one will charge other people money for them.

*evil grin*
 
#52
10cc said:
It is what it is. Sour grapes is not original either. But if you feel better about being a copy cat saying it, well then have at it. If you think you are making people aware of a song by playing a watered down version of a song well... Keep up the good work. I play and write songs because that is what initially sparked an interest in learning how to play in the first place. Creativity.
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I say BS. Just because you write songs doesn't mean they are any good, or even creative. And, just because you write songs doesn't make you better than those who don't. In fact, it's likely that most of your songs were probably influenced in part by other songs that came before you.

You're not special...you never were. Get over yourself.
 
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