[Dixielandjazz] Public Domain music

[Dave Gravatt]

Thanks, Bruce. That is similar information to what I've been finding. This is good stuff:

http://www.copyright.cornell.edu/public_domain/

There is a bluegrass band here in town that was recently fired from their steady weekly gig they'd had for three years because ASCAP demanded $2,000 from the restaurant. (Seating about 60.)

We had a steady gig a few years ago at a seafood restaurant. ASCAP demanded $350 which I paid so we could keep the gig. 

===============
Dave Gravatt
Springfield, Missouri
http://www.creolejazz.com


>  -------Original Message-------
>  From: Bruce Stangeland <stangeland at earthlink.net>
>  Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Public Domain music
>  Sent: Jun 23 '09 12:08
>  
>  Dave,
>  
>  According to the Public Domain Music website: http://www.pdinfo.com/list.php
>  
>  "List of Public Domain Music
>  Any Song or Musical Work Published in 1922 or Earlier is in the Public
>  Domain in the USA.
>  No Sound Recordings are PD in the USA due to a tangled complexity of
>  Federal and State Law.
>  
>  All Public Domain Information on this Site is Based Entirely on USA
>  Copyright Laws.
>  Public Domain Status Must Be Verified Separately for EACH Country where
>  Music is Used.
>  Music Enters the Public Domain 70 Years after the Death of the Author in
>  Most Countries Other than USA."
>  
>  I know of a band that was recently shut out of a restaurant in the San
>  Francisco Bay area under similar circumstances.
>  
>  A restaurant that I play in has what the owner called a "Cabaret
>  license". I believe he said it costs him several hundred $/year.
>  So, say you won't play anything written after 1922.
>  
>  Good luck,
>  Bruce Stangeland
>  Berkeley banjoist
>  
>  ------------------------------
>  
>  Message: 9
>  Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:11:16 -0600
>  From: " Dave Gravatt " <dave at creolejazz.com>
>  Subject: [Dixielandjazz] ASCAP strikes again - our steady gig is in
>  jeopardy
>  To: "DJML" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
>  Cc: Dixieland Jazz Mailing List <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
>  Message-ID: <20090623171116.11195.qmail at hoster902.com>
>  Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>  
>  Hey, gang. Looking for some advice regarding ASCAP. They've discovered our band is playing every week and have contacted the establishment and are attempting to extort funds. The restaurant doesn't want to pay it (I don't know how much yet), and we're getting fired unless we say we're playing only music that is "public domain".
>  
>  I know this has been debated numerous times through the years here but what is the latest thinking on what is public domain? Music written before what year? If I have to say we're not playing anything written after 1925, for example, I will.
>  
>  Any help appreciated.
>  
>  Dave
>  ===============
>  Dave Gravatt
>  Springfield, Missouri
>  http://www.creolejazz.com
>  
>  
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