[BC] Re: question for the braintrust

[Dennis Cope]

> If there are speakers in the ceiling, the music is available to the
general public. Pay the fee or pay the judgement.

I've been trying to get other broadcasters to band together and fight this
b.s. for
years, but nobody wants to take on ASCAP and BMI.  You'd think a big company
like Clear
Channel would step forward and lobby Congress to change the laws regarding
what constitutes
public performance.  As all of us in radio know, if it wasn't for our
airplay of the music,
there would be little CD sales.  The record companies know this.  Otherwise,
why was Sony
Music caught paying programmers to play certain songs?  ASCAP and BMI are
both shakedown
rackets that have been legalized by Congress.  Somebody needs to step
forward and take them
on.

LF

It all starts when a business uses music to (in theory) enhance their
business.

The theory goes, soft relaxing music will cause people (customers) to slow
down and stay longer, thus spend more money in your business.
ASCAP, BMI and SECAC wants a piece of this.  It's called music rights.

Radio stations make money from music, so ASCAP wants a piece of the pie.
Just try to make a spot with their music and they nick you again, sync
rights.
Let your business play a radio station, tapes, CD's or any other music
source and ASCAP wants a piece of your pie.

Now, this is for the composers and publishers.  If you want to share your
music with other,,,, the RIAA gets pissed off and wants some more of your
money.  This is for the recording artist.

As the courts have ruled the composers created the song, so they own it, so
they must be compensated for your use of their song,, remember it  did not
exist before they wrote it.  Of course the publishers don't want to be left
out and then the artist feel they need more money.

And on, and on, and on....

I sold background music systems for 3M for several years and they went
directly to the composers, publishers and artist and arranged to play their
background music without ASCAP or any body else trying to put their fingers
in your back pocket.

Direct TV also has a program to license their audio channels for your
business with out ASCAP involvement.

Is this fair Yes/No, I can't tell you....  But this is the way it's done..

Dennis
WESR, WCTG
KD4NVM