Hi

Yes, if the club/resturaunt hasn't been in communication with ASCAP/BMI, I would leave it alone, not only for the sake of that club, but all of the club's in your area.

This a part of the problem of Pensacola, FL. A few years ago a local returaunt owner blew the whistle on himself and this area. He contacted ASCAP/BMI to see if he needed to pay royalties. You can guess what happened. They said yes, he had to pay. He was one of the first to drop live music. Then ASCAP/BMI started poking their noses into other small clubs, who have enough trouble making it as it is, and telling them they need to pay up. The result, just recently a place I had played shut down live music along with other places battling it out with BMI, etc.

I think it's really a shame, because I think the people that have the most to get out of this is the people that work for ASCAP/BMI. They have earn their salary, while everybody else loses, the club, the musicians, the patrons. I can bet you the artist's they are trying to protect don't need the few cents they may get out of this. At the same time I believe that it really takes away from potential revenue for recording artist's. If someone hears a tune and likes it, they would have a tendency to go out and buy the CD. If they don't hear the music, they won't.

My thoughts on the subject.

Scott