On 10/3/2010 8:25 AM, Smitty Two wrote:
In articleDqKdnZyzod00OTrRnZ2dnUVZ_qednZ2d@giganews. com,
wrote:

On 10/2/2010 1:00 PM, Smitty Two wrote:
In ,
wrote:

On 2010-10-02, zzzzzzzzzz wrote:

Amazing how fast companies jumped on the thing after the patent ran out.

Unfortunately, these small mfg companies don't have the $$$ power of
big conglomerates like the record and pharmaceutical companies which
can bribe slimey pols into changing laws so exclusivity laws extend to
near perpetuity. Last I heard, the copyright on a song was 75 yrs
...AFTER the author dies! Bet Fein wishes they had that kinda clout.

nb

I think a song copyright is a little different. It doesn't prevent
someone else from singing the song, does it?

If they are singing it for pay, it sure does, unless they have the
rights licensed. Sorta like playing recorded music in a bar. The
industry trade associations have systems in place for all that.

Hmm, I didn't know this. So a local band, playing a local club for a few
bucks, and covering all manner of stuff, who do they pay? How do they
pay? When do they pay? How much to they pay? How often do they say "to
hell with it" and don't pay?

Look up BMI and ASCAP (I think those are the acronyms), and visit their
web pages. I have had no reason to learn all the details, but I know
both associations have processes in place. Is any one bar band likely to
get nailed? Probably not, unless somebody drops a dime on them. I
presume whoever acts as manager/agent for the band takes care of getting
clearances for their playlist in advance, probably via some sort of
monthly or annual fee. It isn't very high on a per-band or
per-performance basis. But there are a LOT of bars and bar bands out
there, so it adds up. Sometimes, some of it actually makes its way back
to the artist who created the song (or to whoever they sold their rights
to, at least.)

--
aem sends...