Club owner docks band for ASCAP/BMI fees?

[Tony Prior]

it's a monthly/yearly fee, not a Fri/Sat fee.

Basically $3.25 a day for ALL of the music being played. ( 1200 by 365 )

Charging a band $25 is quite the profit and ..uhh..quite the scam.

But, it' possible the guy is avoiding the yearly license and wants to pay as he goes...$50 a weekend which actually is about right for one time charges.

I have played cover bands for the past 40 years,still am, not one time have I run into this scenario. All bar owners know this stuff, it's part of doing business and having music, to pretend otherwise is a flat out and out big fib.

So, ok, lets play by this guys rules.

"We normally charge $500/ night but here we need $525, so if you need to deduct $25 we're ok with it" .

With regards to Chris scenario, yes there is a one time fee for playing published music in a hall, somewhere around $20, that's probably where the above $25 came from. If it is a benefit it may be NO CHARGE.

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[AJ Azure]

My wife recently rented a hall to put off a benefit. The hall charged her these fees on top of the rental. Is that right?

NO but, they can charge a usage fee under a vague heading. It's their location technically they can charge you a breathing fee if they want to.