[Dixielandjazz] Music Licensing Fees!! - BMI & ASCAP

[Doug Burnley]

HELP!!

      I know this subject came up a couple of months back and
I did review some of the responses in the archives.

      For the past couple of months BMI has been applying their
extortion tactics aimed at our Jazz Society, which meets once per month
with an average of 175 - 200 attendees. I had ignored their mail and
phone calls, hoping they would go away and find a more lucrative
target.

      No such luck, today I received a contract indicating we owe them
$1241.10 per year, as many of you who are involved in Jazz Societies
realize, we are a non-profit organization whose only interest is to
promote and encourage OKOM, not to make money - if we cave in to
their demands it could very well threaten the existence of our organization.
(Also there is ASCAP & SESAC which could insist on licensing).

      Any words of advice?

Doug Burnley
Pres - Hot Jazz & Alligator Gumbo Society
http://riversidejazz.com/hags