As many of you know ASCAP requested we send them a license fee of $305.00 for public use of recorded music. Although I tried to convince our city of what a scam this was 7 out of 8 aldermen voted to pay them. The check was sent. Since then I did some research around other cities in Illinois and I cannot find one that has paid this fee when requested. I contacted Peru, Oglesby,Spring Valley and none have remitted any money to ASCAP. I even called DeKalb, a much larger city , and was informed by their City Clerk that their stance is that it’s unenforceable.
In tough economic times organizations have to continue to find new ways for revenue creation. It seems this is ASCAP’s latest scam. Send off requests for fees based on their idea of what should be paid by cities of different populations. Set the fee low enough that many cities will pay instead of spending legal costs to research it. It seems common sense and public officials don’t go hand in hand….but when has it? After all it’s not their money…..but I don’t want to paint with a broad brush…I can’t find another city but us who fell for this….beam me up Scotty!
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Garry
If LaSalle really felt paying ASCAP was necessary to be fully compliant with the law, how come they did not go ahead and pay the other licensing groups? ASCAP is only one of a few groups that license music. To be fully compliant you have to pay all of them since some musicians license through other agencies like BMI.
The whole push by ASCAP is interesting because at some point I could see it hurting radio stations. As you pointed out in your posts, radio already pays to broadcast so you would think this license covers anyone listening. But with ASCAP’s new interpretation, this would mean radio is only a middle man adding another level to getting music to people. Are they going to go after people who sit in parking lots with their car radios going? (I realize that is taking it a little far, but really where do you draw the line?)
I am not an expert at music licensing but did research it in order to operate my own internet radio. To make sure you are legally operating, it can cost anywhere from $600 and on up depending on how many people are listening. And you have to manage the fee payments and documentation of what you play. Fortunately I found a service that is more reasonable than that and they handle all the licensing issues so I don’t have to. So for the same $300+ LaSalle paid, they could easily set up their own playlist, add in their own announcements, ads for local biz, and news. Then the city, and others, could broadcast this everywhere – over the internet and at their facilities. But you can see how this could then take listeners away from radio.
When I was still at the city, we looked into setting up our own radio station, perhaps in cooperation with the high school. Students could have set up and run the station allowing them to have some fun while gaining experience in many areas. But no one really wanted to pursue it. Of course, I realize there is even less of a chance of anyone doing that now. Instead they are shelling out money without really looking into the entire matter. It is in the end, as you suggested, more complicated than just paying someone $300 because they told you to.
Pam
Good to hear from you and thank you for your comments…