I know the legalities but I think BMI and ASCAP are a scam and the laws don't make sense.
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If I pay them for performance rights to play prerecorded music in a public setting, why should I have to pay for the private license as well (by buying it)? Shouldn't they provide me with any music that they license? Their fees would make more sense if they also offered a Spotify-like service for their full catalog.
They don't know what I'm playing at my venue or how much of it is being played. The only feedback they get is if a performing artist reports what songs they play at my venue or if they send a spy. There's no way the payout can be fair. We almost never play the most popular songs as enter/exit music.
What about artists who are not covered by ASCAP or BMI? Who do I pay then?
I part-own a 40 seat listening room that averages about 1 show a week so there isn't much money being made. It's less of a commercial venture and more of something we do because we love it. BMI alone wants $1700/yr from us. I'm not sure what ASCAP wants. I've begun only playing background music from locals whom I have direct permission to play.
Pandora has a business-class subscription but it requires a special piece of hardware. Spotify and Pandora should be able to get deals to provide business-class subscriptions that use their existing apps. Anyone know why they don't?
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