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In what possible sense is this extortion? If restaurant owners want to play music to their customers, in an attempt to extract additional revenue, they are req
by michael_dorfman 16y ago
In what possible sense is this extortion?
If restaurant owners want to play music to their customers, in an attempt to extract additional revenue, they are required to pay a fee to the artists who composed the music. Similarly, if they want to serve liquor, they need to get a liquor license. If they want to sell orange juice, they need to (somewhere) buy the orange juice.
I'm having trouble finding the source of the outrage.
- greyfade 16y agoThere are a few things: 1. Suppose the restaurant owner is not playing music that BMI/ASCAP are authorized to collect royalties on. What gives them the right to demand it? The answer is a law which effectively assumes the restauranteur is a liar and is playing music illegally. 2. BMI/ASCAP-collected royalties rarely are paid to the artists. Most of those royalties disappear in "operating expenses" and executive bonuses. Few artists ever see a dime. 3. BMI/ASCAP know that their activities are harming businesses and don't care. Their royalty schedules often far exceed what is reasonable and, in many cases, force small businesses to fold entirely. I know several people in this position. 4. Many artists are aware of this and strongly disapprove of it, but are powerless to stop it. Nothing BMI/ASCAP does is justifiable.
- pasbesoin 16y agoI recall a news story a year or two ago about a cafe owner forced to end live entertainment. Even after he explained that only hosted live bands playing original works, he was unable to get out from under unaffordable legal expense to defend his position.