Musicians, I know we have all been there climbing to the top but I have a bit of advice that may help you. Over the years I have been invited to occasional public events that require a substantial fee when entering the venue primarily to watch a band perform cover songs all night for nobodys monetary benefit but the bands. Obviously the venue makes money off of sales and the attraction of future customers. What I mean by substantial is more than $.01 and up to enter the venue and nobody has joined ASCAP, BMI, EMI, etc.. I would like to inform everyone that someone wrote those cover songs and deserves to be paid. I advise the bands and the venues (not mentioning) to be aware that by not supporting the rights of others, you are stealing from others who have worked very hard to get their music heard. Please keep in mind that if you ask for this kind of respect, you must reciprocate by supporting venues that pay their dues to those who have paid their dues. If you are required to join ASCAP, BMI, EMI, etc. You want to take it seriously. The fines can get very costly and annoying. I am not saying play for free....just keep in mind who is making money the right way and who isnt. Those organizations are here to help us all get paid....Consider this: if you wrote a hit song and everyone played and owned your hit free of charge, who got paid? Who lost interest???? You guessed it....Everyone at the end if the day. If you want to last, you will never stop paying dues people. If you are true to your craft, you are aware of all aspects of your craft....I would never hire a lawyer that didnt choose to know know everything they could about law....just saying.
Posted on: Fri, 25 Apr 2014 15:05:53 +0000