Playing a cover song is not okay, and if someone from ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC happens to be in the bar, you’re paying a hefty fine. There are plenty of dive bars around here with big “No Covers” signs, because both the band and the venue get fined.
The days of playing a fun, drunk encore of your band’s favorite song went out the window when cell phone video starting ratting artists out to The Man.
Source: been a performing musician for decades. I’ve experienced the shift from “A cover? I LOVE THIS SONG!” to “Don’t play that, I can’t afford the fine!” happen to me and my friends firsthand.
Yeah I live in the capital city for my state and hear bands cover songs all the time. Technically the bar is meant to pay a fee to One music which allows them to have bands cover pretty much all commercial music but unless it’s a proper pub venue I doubt they all do it.
BMI is specificslly the global version. If you live somewhere that never sees an enforcement member, that’s great for you, but the law still applies. You just don’t live somewhere where they bother to enforce it.
Playing a cover song is not okay, and if someone from ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC happens to be in the bar, you’re paying a hefty fine. There are plenty of dive bars around here with big “No Covers” signs, because both the band and the venue get fined.
The days of playing a fun, drunk encore of your band’s favorite song went out the window when cell phone video starting ratting artists out to The Man.
Source: been a performing musician for decades. I’ve experienced the shift from “A cover? I LOVE THIS SONG!” to “Don’t play that, I can’t afford the fine!” happen to me and my friends firsthand.
Must be a regional thing. All the places I went to in Australia has no issues with covering music.
Yeah I live in the capital city for my state and hear bands cover songs all the time. Technically the bar is meant to pay a fee to One music which allows them to have bands cover pretty much all commercial music but unless it’s a proper pub venue I doubt they all do it.
BMI is specificslly the global version. If you live somewhere that never sees an enforcement member, that’s great for you, but the law still applies. You just don’t live somewhere where they bother to enforce it.
Wait so if I’m at a house party and I play Wonderwall, I can get in trouble?
Noel Gallagher himself will show up and pee on your guitar.
If there’s a BMI exec there and they want to be a complete dick, yup.