ASCAP Now Demanding License From Venues That Let People Play Guitar Hero

[saint]

We've been detailing how the various collection societies around the globe have been trotting out all sorts of dubious reasoning to try to get more people to pay up for a license. In the US, ASCAP has been particularly ridiculous, seeking public performance licenses for (legally licensed) ringtones as well as the 30-second previews you find on music download stores like iTunes. ASCAP has already succeeded in forcing YouTube to pay up as well. Of course, the end result has actually been harming many up and coming songwriters and musicians, as more and more venues are choosing to forego music entirely, because it's just not worth having to pay up the fees that ASCAP charges.

 

http://techdirt.com/articles/20091214/0857127338.shtml

 

One word, stupid or to phrase it like Forest Gump - Stupid is, as Stupid does :D

[saint]

Here is a scenario to ponder, what if a Bar decides to have a large screen TV showing YouTube video music videos OR what if that same bar decides to show a satellite channel that has music videos.

 

I guess music in bars is a thing of the past - just like smoking or having a few drinks with friends.

 

Why even have bars any more ?

 

I know, I have a briliant idea! Lets all stay home and watch what has been selected for us and drink only what has been medically and nutritionally approved by the Government - for general consumption.

[BWorld]

This is so dumb. Why does the stupid companies need more money? They are already paid, along with the artists, to put their damn songs on the game.

 

What if there is a family gathering? I guess we will have to pay again too =/

[flowerpoweroldie]

NOT groovy, let them drown in their own profits!!!

[Rob Martin]

Don't laugh! A friend of mine says the next thing ASCAP will be doing is hanging around New York City intersections during the summertime waiting for people with their car cd and mp3 players playing loudly. They will come up to the car and give the operator a bill for performance royalties taxes.

 

Of course, another friend told me when he was running a dance club and their rep tried to collect money from them. The thing the rep did not bet on was the fact that there were people much more powerful than him whom *may* have suggested physical harm if he showed his face again. Needless to say, that guy never came back!

 

Why cant somebody demand to see their books to see how they are really paying artists, if they really are that is. I bet it will never happen.

 

 

rob

[NickolasM.]

Rob, Your friends are so true, It's sad.

 

Only reason why I think they would not do / stop, doing it in NYC, is because they might get a gun pulled on them.

 

I hope your other friend had the bouncers 'escort' that rep. out.

[NickolasM.]

Soon enough we will be doing (in our modern way) what we did to tax collectors awhile back.

 

http://www.teachnet.ie/jheffernan/2005/images/1774_lynching.jpg

[Brutish Sailor]

music is entertainment. BOTTOM LINE. Its entertainment because people enjoy it, the enjoy the mood they are in when they listen, they like the way it swings their personality.

 

The Thing that the RIAA's LACKIES forgot is how big a roll we all play in the business. You want to go after pirates in the sea of entertainment, go pirate hunting. YOU DONT kill all the little boats in the progress.

 

Its kinda hilarious to me. Go ahead, tell this industry that you can charge more because we cant stay alive without the RIAA's Artist, and keep squeezing the blood from small radio and other media outlets. Eventually enough outlets will turn to places like magnatunes. Lets see how they do when no one will promote their new picks for artist on store shelves.

[NickolasM.]

Would it be better for new artist to NOT sign with a record company?

[SpazzRadio]

Would it be better for new artist to NOT sign with a record company?

 

I think that is the future of music. If you are at all involved with the music scene on myspace or other sites like it, there are MANY bands/performers who are going that route already.

[WavestreamingConnect]

I think that is the future of music. If you are at all involved with the music scene on myspace or other sites like it, there are MANY bands/performers who are going that route already.

 

Agreed! Not only do the artists get more money, but also have more control over what they can do! I expect to see miles more artists heading that way soon!

 

James