[Dixielandjazz] Singing Happy Birthday is a No-No - Was Who is BMI

[Gluetje1 at aol.com]

Reading that literally, the musicians can play the tune and the audience  can 
sing to the birthday person???
Ginny
 
In a message dated 4/17/2007 9:27:08 A.M. Central Daylight Time,  
barbonestreet at earthlink.net writes:

You can  hum and/or play Happy Birthday without infringing on a copyright
because  the melody is in the public domain. But if you sing it, beware. Note
that  the lyrics were copyrighted in 1935, are now owned by Time Warner, and
the  copyright is vigorously enforced by ASCAP. The lyrics generate $2
million  dollars a year for Time Warner. NONE OF THAT GOES TO JESSICA HILL
one of  the original family members who authored the tune and then
copyrighted the  lyrics.








************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.