Wow, this is unbelievable. Thanks for sharing. If you don't mind me asking, what state is your club in and what's the max occupancy? Just curious, b/c I'm in New Jersey and we have several large bar venues (mostly in the shore towns) that work exclusively with agency cover bands. I would imagine these types of clubs must pay in the ballpark of what you described. Maybe more?
Does your club have bands? I just noticed you wrote, "$40,000 is just for recorded music."
Thanks again for the enlightenment! I'm a working musician and find this to be insane.
One conspiracy theory I've developed over the above encounter ^ regarding the establishment who sent me walking, is that they brought in one of those newer, digital jukeboxes. It made me wonder if there were representatives checking up on their subscribers to ensure their jukeboxes were being played instead of live musicians meddling with their profit opportunity. The whole thing had me scratching my head because this particular restaurant is out in the middle of nowhere, far from where you would expect anyone to bother them.
As a solo-acoustic cover musician here in NJ, I recently went on a booking rampage and knocked on the doors of a few establishments that host live entertainers. I was dismayed by the response I received by a restaurant owner who asked if I pay royalties to BMI. She was recently approached by a PRO(s) who threatened her with a $9000 annual tab. After performing my own research via the BMI website, I came to find out the liability falls on the establishment's hands, but that doesn't make me feel any better about the situation, because if they've threatened her, they've threatened other places I'd like to perform. I've always looked at the service I provide as a win-win for me (the performer) and you (the restaurant/bar owner). If I owned a bar and was approached by PROs demanding $9000/year, I would absolutely do away with live music, too. It sucks to say that, but it's business survival.
Find me a highly successful, original artist today who didn't perform cover songs, but paid royalties while doing so, in their early years. Highly unlikely! We all do it. And do you think an international rock star would come after Little Joe Schmuckatelli for covering their song at the local watering hole on a Friday night? Of course not, because they did the same damned thing back in the day.
The lawyers need to get their piece of the pie. That's all it boils down to.
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Wow, this is unbelievable. Thanks for sharing. If you don't mind me asking, what state is your club in and what's the max occupancy? Just curious, b/c I'm in New Jersey and we have several large bar venues (mostly in the shore towns) that work exclusively with agency cover bands. I would imagine these types of clubs must pay in the ballpark of what you described. Maybe more?
Does your club have bands? I just noticed you wrote, "$40,000 is just for recorded music."
Thanks again for the enlightenment! I'm a working musician and find this to be insane.
Cheers!
Re: Re: licensing agencies hurt musicians
One conspiracy theory I've developed over the above encounter ^ regarding the establishment who sent me walking, is that they brought in one of those newer, digital jukeboxes. It made me wonder if there were representatives checking up on their subscribers to ensure their jukeboxes were being played instead of live musicians meddling with their profit opportunity. The whole thing had me scratching my head because this particular restaurant is out in the middle of nowhere, far from where you would expect anyone to bother them.
Re: licensing agencies hurt musicians
As a solo-acoustic cover musician here in NJ, I recently went on a booking rampage and knocked on the doors of a few establishments that host live entertainers. I was dismayed by the response I received by a restaurant owner who asked if I pay royalties to BMI. She was recently approached by a PRO(s) who threatened her with a $9000 annual tab. After performing my own research via the BMI website, I came to find out the liability falls on the establishment's hands, but that doesn't make me feel any better about the situation, because if they've threatened her, they've threatened other places I'd like to perform. I've always looked at the service I provide as a win-win for me (the performer) and you (the restaurant/bar owner). If I owned a bar and was approached by PROs demanding $9000/year, I would absolutely do away with live music, too. It sucks to say that, but it's business survival.
Find me a highly successful, original artist today who didn't perform cover songs, but paid royalties while doing so, in their early years. Highly unlikely! We all do it. And do you think an international rock star would come after Little Joe Schmuckatelli for covering their song at the local watering hole on a Friday night? Of course not, because they did the same damned thing back in the day.
The lawyers need to get their piece of the pie. That's all it boils down to.