Music Industry Shaking Down Coffee Shops

realjd writes with news out of Florida that music licensing companies are now hitting small bars and coffee shops that offer live music, even if only occasionally and even if the musicians don't get paid. One coffee-shop owner told musicians they can only perform their own songs from now on. "A restaurant owner who doesn't even offer live music was approached for payment for having the TV on while the Monday Night Football theme played. And if the owners pay up to one licensing company, all of the others start harassing them, calling four times a day, demanding payment too. It sounds like they don't even check whether any copyright violations occurred, they're just sending bills to any business that may or may not have live music."

Comments

Since the government won't do anything...

[DamienNightbane]

I think that it's about time that we start dispensing some vigilante justice to these music industry racketeers.

It's high time that we start firebombing offices and assassinating executives and the lawyers that work for these slimeballs.

I doubt it.

[raehl]

but consider what a boom this might be for people writing their own music.

Consider what a burden this will be to people who have to LISTEN to the people who write their own music.

Most music is crap. Let bands play covers so we don't have to be subjected to their original work.