2 of 3

Write now Article Tools

The issues between organizations like ASCAP, BMI and SESAC and business owners playing music or having performances of songs within the catalogues of these organizations look like they're bubbling over into a big mess. I believe that if you are going to use copyrighted music than by law you should pay the license. It's as simple as that, however unfair some of those laws are.

However, the tactics used by groups like ASCAP leave many wondering if copyright law and the laws revolving around royalties need to be seriously examined. I'm among those that feel that some radical change in how we look at copyright and royalties needs to be initiated!

Lawsuits are being filed even against clubs, bars and coffee houses that don't play copyrighted music, without any thought to fairness or justice. These organizations collect royalties and give them to multi-million dollar artists and songwriters. Or spend the money on lavish parties for members and employees. Small working artists who are members rarely see anything of these royalties collected. It leads me to wonder: should content creators, more specifically artists, receive royalties years after they've created content? I've been thinking about this a lot. It seems to me that many of the organizations put in place originally to help musicians no longer do that. At least not work-a-day musicians. In fact, when you look at how many black artists and country artists that never received royalties for their work so many decades ago I wonder how long it's been that these organizations haven't done what they claim to do for artists? ASCAP, BMI, SESAC? I'm looking at you!

The entertainment industry is the only industry where an artist continues to get paid many years after they've created their content. But is this fair? Centuries ago artists got paid like everyone else - by the job. Why should they get royalties many years later? I've read, commented and argued on quite a few blogs and forums on this issue and I'm finding that there are a lot of people who agree with me on this. A regular complaint that comes up is that these organizations collect royalties from coffee houses, bars, clubs and other venues but a lot of musicians never see the money. As mentioned before, they even attack and intimidate people who play or perform only original, independent music; music not in their catalogues, demanding exorbitant fines and license fees. I know a racket when I smell one and I don't care what any industry tool has to say about

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about BMI & ASCAP taking law suits too far?
We want to hear your view. Write now!