Will ASCAP or BMI tax Bobbe Seymour?

Aaron Schiff · Post by **Aaron Schiff** » 26 Dec 2005 2:32 pm

Check out this newspaper article from the UK. By the way, the PRS is the "Performing Rights Society", not Paul Reed Smith guitars. http://www.macclesfield-express.co.uk/news/s/207/207169_its_a_fiddle.html Next thing you know ASCAP will be knocking on Bobbe Seymour's door everytime a customer plays two bars of "San Antonio Rose". I'm all for paying artists, but this is a little ridiculous.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 26 Dec 2005 8:31 pm

Yeah, this stuff gets silly after a while. I argue that this isn't a public performance. Maybe PRS-ASCAP-BMI want to put bugs in everyones homes and see if they are playing any known songs. These people are performing for themselves, not the public. If someone happens to hear, in either place, that still doesn't make it a public performance.

Now, if the music store was charging admission or using the performances to entice people to come into the store (what they argue bars and restaurants do), then that would be different.

It is unfortunate that this type of thing has gotten so out-of-hand. But lawyers need something to do also, don't they?

IMHO.

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 26 Dec 2005 9:17 pm

I wonder how long it will be before they show up at the steel guitar shows ? Jody.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 26 Dec 2005 9:31 pm

Truely ludacris.
Land of the absurd
Beyond reason

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 27 Dec 2005 10:23 pm

I wonder how long it will be before they show up at the steel guitar shows?

They already do.

Mark Vinbury · Post by **Mark Vinbury** » 28 Dec 2005 7:05 am

I was wondering about this sort of thing yesterday after airing a tune from a Jim Cohen CD in the "chat room".
Bet there'll be some noise about this as it becomes more popular.
The language in the article was great.
I liked the shop owners line "they can go whistle"
Which brings up another.......[This message was edited by Mark Vinbury on 28 December 2005 at 07:14 AM.]

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 28 Dec 2005 7:58 am

Mark,
please mail brer Cohen 3 cents.
Then we at least know he got HIS roayalty check this year.

George Wixon · Post by **George Wixon** » 28 Dec 2005 9:12 am

What's next? Charging music instructors so they can teach students how to play a song on an instrument?

Terry Edwards · Post by **Terry Edwards** » 28 Dec 2005 9:15 am

I caught myself whistling a song in the supermarket the other day! Yikes!!!

Terry

Dave White · Post by **Dave White** » 28 Dec 2005 1:02 pm

This isn't surprising coming from a country where you have to have a license to operate a television set--However, I was wondering, if I'm whistling "Faded Love" while I'm taking a leak in a public restroom, is that considered a public performance?

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 28 Dec 2005 2:01 pm

Well, technically, it's a pubic performance....

[This message was edited by HowardR on 28 December 2005 at 03:56 PM.]

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 28 Dec 2005 3:16 pm

Howard! thanks for the laugh. That was a real pi$$er!

Dave White · Post by **Dave White** » 28 Dec 2005 3:20 pm

Sounds like one of those "European" jokes to me...

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 28 Dec 2005 3:21 pm

groan...

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 28 Dec 2005 3:54 pm

No b0b, groin.....

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 28 Dec 2005 8:19 pm

Howard... you're certifiable... ROTFLOL

Ah, but the reverb was very big,
something about those tiled walls!

It seems we should only whistle Steven Foster in restrooms.
He's so long dead thay can't send him a check.
And that ain't whistlin' Dixie.

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 28 December 2005 at 08:20 PM.]

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 28 Dec 2005 8:39 pm

Sounds like one of those "European" jokes to me...

Here's one you can use (it's a true one and even on topic):

A few years ago the Norwegian Copyright Bureau decided that doctors, dentists, and everybody else who had a radio on in the waiting room had to pay a royalty fee... Which is totally over the top, especially considering that the radio stations already pays a fee for broadcasting the music.

Stuff like this, and the story from England, is seriously bad news for us copyright holders, since it undermines any respect people may have left for these laws and regulations, and in effect encourage people to break them.

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com

[This message was edited by Steinar Gregertsen on 28 December 2005 at 08:40 PM.][This message was edited by Steinar Gregertsen on 28 December 2005 at 08:41 PM.]

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 29 Dec 2005 4:32 am

It's no longer a matter of what's right or wrong....it's what's enforceable and collectable.

Unfortunately, this type of thing in every area seems to becoming an art form. Creative ways and means in which to extract money from people and buinesses.

What the heck is a surcharge ??? To me, it's "Sir, we want more of your money."[This message was edited by HowardR on 29 December 2005 at 04:39 AM.]

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 29 Dec 2005 6:05 am

Very simple
Sur in french means over.
So Overcharge.. yeah fits perfectly.

Yes this does undermine peoples respect
for resonable usage fees for artists work.

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 29 Dec 2005 6:12 am

and it's not the artists who are at fault.

So that brings me to this question....Hypothetical situation

...suppose, somebody were to hold a musical instruction workshop, a private workshop in a commercial place that's closed to the public. Can they demand fees? Of course, if it were me, I wouldn't unlock the door for them. [This message was edited by HowardR on 29 December 2005 at 06:17 AM.]

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 29 Dec 2005 8:02 am

Howard, if it's a private workshop behind closed doors I don't think they can. It only applys to music performed or broadcasted at 'public places' (at least over here, but it may vary from country to country for all I know).
I wonder when they're going to go after the street musicians and kill that little 'entertainment industry' too.....

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www.gregertsen.com

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 29 Dec 2005 7:53 pm

after airing a tune from a Jim Cohen CD in the "chat room".

What? You aired a Jim Cohen song in a chat room? I DEMAND compensation! Depending on which one you aired, my fee will be either $0.0004 or $0.00037 No personal checks please.

Mark Vinbury · Post by **Mark Vinbury** » 30 Dec 2005 7:12 am

Your confusing me Jim........
What about that deal we had.......
Anxiously awiting your reply here at payola.com ...

[This message was edited by Mark Vinbury on 30 December 2005 at 08:02 AM.]

Bill Crook · Post by **Bill Crook** » 30 Dec 2005 7:42 am

I've said it once,
I'll say it again,

"ASCAP & BMI and the other blood-suckers can go P*** up a rope"

This theme has been kicked around more than once or twice. The only folks gettin' any money is the fatcats, NOT the artist,writers or musicians.

I'll admit, I've D/L MP3s cut tapes from the radio. My take on it is: Once the sound is in my house, it's mine and I'll do whatever I want to with it. Play it,listen to it,make copies of it. It's MINE,MINE,MINE !!!!

"ASCAP,BMI,"Go p*** up a rope"

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http://home.comcast.net/~crookwf/
http://photobucket.com/albums/v479/billcrook/

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 30 Dec 2005 9:00 am

Oh, so that's the reason for all of the tasteless music over the PA system at the gym __ music I've never heard and don't want to hear.

It must be from the recycle bins of the recording studios.

Mr.Clean