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Cover band fees
- Thread starter 10cc
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Ahh, how cute, another pretentious, "I'm a real serious artiste' who hates cover bands" thread, only this one is disguised under the pretense of a discussion about songwriting royalties. I believe the technically term for this type of thread is "concern trolling."
BTW, ASCAP and BMI are pretty sharkish about going after venues that have cover music/DJs and don't pay their fees. I've seen it happen before. If you actually belonged to one of those organizations you'd know that, instead of creating some strawman about how bands need to pay the venue to play covers. Someone so knowledgeable about original music as yourself is an ASCAP or BMI member, right?
BTW, ASCAP and BMI are pretty sharkish about going after venues that have cover music/DJs and don't pay their fees. I've seen it happen before. If you actually belonged to one of those organizations you'd know that, instead of creating some strawman about how bands need to pay the venue to play covers. Someone so knowledgeable about original music as yourself is an ASCAP or BMI member, right?
I doubt most clubs pay the royalty fees required. I'm betting that they "piggy-back" off that silly little BMI or ASCAP sticker put on the door issued by the internet jukebox in the place. They don't pay it directly, and sure as heck don't log the songs nightly and report them.
We don't play many covers at all, but I've never been asked "how many and which songs?". I've rarely even heard them ask if we (our band) are doing covers or originals. Most venues are going to never get caught and they know that.
I personally don't care if a cover band makes more money than my original band, but I feel they and the venue owe the songs covered something. Some bands don't even acknowledge who the song belongs to. At least a "Here's a little diddy made famous by such and such".
We don't play many covers at all, but I've never been asked "how many and which songs?". I've rarely even heard them ask if we (our band) are doing covers or originals. Most venues are going to never get caught and they know that.
I personally don't care if a cover band makes more money than my original band, but I feel they and the venue owe the songs covered something. Some bands don't even acknowledge who the song belongs to. At least a "Here's a little diddy made famous by such and such".
I saw 10cc play "Chicken Fried" once. I had to pay $10 at the door to see it too. And he had a Pink Floyd shirt on!
20. Major League
19. Remember the Titans
18. Jerry Mcguire
17. The Hustler
16. Heaven Can Wait
15. Tin Cup
14. Breaking Away
13. Miracle
12. Rudy
11. Field of Dreams
10. Seabiscuit
9. The Natural
8. Chariots of Fire
7. CaddyShack
6. Million Dollar Baby
5. A League of Their Own
4. Ragging Bull
3. Rocky
2. Bull Durham
1. Hoosiers
Well done!!! And that's my point, the top three are always the same ( but I have serious concerns about your #16....)
20. Major League
19. Remember the Titans
18. Jerry Mcguire
17. The Hustler
16. Heaven Can Wait
15. Tin Cup
14. Breaking Away
13. Miracle
12. Rudy
11. Field of Dreams
10. Seabiscuit
9. The Natural
8. Chariots of Fire
7. CaddyShack
6. Million Dollar Baby
5. A League of Their Own
4. Ragging Bull
3. Rocky
2. Bull Durham
1. Hoosiers
Good list. No love for Slapshot or The Wrestler huh?
20. Major League
19. Remember the Titans
18. Jerry Mcguire
17. The Hustler
16. Heaven Can Wait
15. Tin Cup
14. Breaking Away
13. Miracle
12. Rudy
11. Field of Dreams
10. Seabiscuit
9. The Natural
8. Chariots of Fire
7. CaddyShack
6. Million Dollar Baby
5. A League of Their Own
4. Ragging Bull
3. Rocky
2. Bull Durham
1. Hoosiers
No Real Steel? This list is way off!
Um, didn't the Stones, Beatles, Elvis, Grateful Dead, and everyone else under the sun pick a famous band play covers as well as originals. Metallica does. Foo Fighters do. All the American Idol nobody's do. Just my Humble observation
There is a weekly acoustic jam at my local lodge. The lodge pays an annual blanket royalty
because many of the jammers play non original music. Many play original music too. But the ascap/bmi dude told us a few years ago that if we were going to have people in the lodge, which is considered a public facility, in the bar or other rooms playing 'cover tunes'that the lodge was required to pay the royalties. He didn't count up songs or categorize artists, just applied the annual blanket of approx $1500. I guess they have a way of disbursing that to the appropriate recipients...I would hope so.
because many of the jammers play non original music. Many play original music too. But the ascap/bmi dude told us a few years ago that if we were going to have people in the lodge, which is considered a public facility, in the bar or other rooms playing 'cover tunes'that the lodge was required to pay the royalties. He didn't count up songs or categorize artists, just applied the annual blanket of approx $1500. I guess they have a way of disbursing that to the appropriate recipients...I would hope so.
Once his indie street cred was wrecked by the posting of him playing a cover, he must have decided to call it a day.
BTW, while I'm not a big sports film fan, The Mighty Ducks will always have a special place in my heart.
Im no expert, but I think the royalties get paid out on the basis of how many people heard the song being performed. So Bar Band playing to 5 people results in a royalty payment of 0.0000000005 cents to holder of the publishing rights, but the $1500 licence fee goes into the general fund to help payout the royalties when the song is covered by Metallica 5 nights in a row at Stadium A. This would be why the small venues dont really keep a good record of what was played, the bulk of the royalties are recorded and distrubuted based on exposure by big venues, radio, TV etc.
As far as covers vs originals go, it makes no difference; the royalties are for the songwriter. Mick & Keef (or the publishing company more likely) would get all the royalties for a Satisfaction if it was performed live by the Stones, I cover it in the back of Joes bar, or the CD is playing at the Mall.
Moral of the story, if you want to make money in the biz, own the publishing rights.
What was the ice hockey film with Rob Lowe. I thought that was a great film as a kid.
What about 8 Mile with Eminem? Rap Battle is a sport isnt it?
That's how most of the bars around here do it, or at least that's what I've been told.
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