BE3CE8000005DC-652_634x407.jpg' alt='Often Do Texas Drivers Licenses Expire' title='Often Do Texas Drivers Licenses Expire' />The Day the Music Died A Special Report. A look at ASCAP BMI How the music licensing scam works If you own a nightclub or any other business where there is music playing even on a television you have probably been shaken down by ASCAP andor BMI. These two groups are the licensing agencies for hundreds of thousands of copyrighted songs. They allegedly make sure the artists who create the music receive their fair share of royalties. It is nothing more than a scam. By Drivers. com staff. Date Saturday, 13. May 2006. In South Africa, a drivers licence isnt difficult to obtain. No formal training is required and few drivers. Government code. title 4. How many Americans have a passport The number of Americans who have a passport, according to the most recent statistics, is about 39 of the population. Here, for the first time ever in print, is the true story about these corrupt organizations. It is a story I have been working on for over five years. During this time I have been threatened, cajoled, and offered financial opportunities in order to persuade me to leave this story alone. It is one of the largest grafts in the country, and these greedy agencies are very protective of  what they are, in effect, stealing. Some back history ASCAP American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers started in 1. In those days, a composer like Stephen Foster would practically starve to death while music publishers sold his music and kept the money. In those days, it was mostly sheet music and rolls for player pianos that were sold. Composers didnt get anything out of this. ASCAP was supposed to help composers get their royalties, but the organization soon became a racket. By the late 1. 93. ASCAP comprised only 1,1. To gain admission to ASCAP a writer had to have published five hit songs, a requirement that kept new writers out in the cold. Likewise, the system favored established publishers, about 1. Trucker Docs answers questions from commercial drivers about DOT physical requirements, FMCSA regulations, medical certificate, and DOT long form. TheINQUIRER publishes daily news, reviews on the latest gadgets and devices, and INQdepth articles for tech buffs and hobbyists. Alabama. Drivers visual capabilities are assessed upon original licensure, and then again only if they are referred to the Department for reexamination. Country artists had access to the public through the Grand Ole Opry, broadcast over Nashvilles WSM since 1. ASCAP eluded them. Country stars such as Gene Autry and jazz greats like Jelly Roll Morton were rejected for years by ASCAP. By 1. 94. 0, radio broadcasters got fed up with ASCAPs escalating demands for fees, which rarely went to the songwriters and artists anyway, and rebelled. Many radio stations quit playing licensed music, and refused to pay ASCAP. For several years radio stations played Blue Danube and other traditional songs that were considered public domain. Instead of helping composers, ASCAP practices actually kept their music from getting radio airtime. ASCAP fell into disfavor because they were seen as counterproductive to the music industry, while exacting a heavy toll from all involved. Then in 1. 94. 0, BMI Broadcast Music Incorporated was formed to counter ASCAP. Soft Plan Key Crack on this page. BMIs purpose was to provide an opportunity for those writers and publishers unable to gain entry into ASCAP, and to provide an alternative source for broadcasters and venues. Screen-Shot-2014-04-25-at-11.42.56-AM.png' alt='Often Do Texas Drivers Licenses Expire' title='Often Do Texas Drivers Licenses Expire' />It was hoped that BMI would do a more honest job, and that songwriters and everyone else in the music business would profit. It was not to be. The same kind of greedy vultures that operated ASCAP soon took over BMI, and it simply became a competing scam. Where the money goes The major amount of license money for both groups comes from something called Public Performance for Profit and any venue that uses music for profit nightclubs, restaurants, even supermarkets that play Muzak has to pay a fee. These fees are supposed to be distributed to the artists whose songs are being used  in these Public Performances. That is supposedly why these entities exist. But the payout doesnt work that way. Texas graduated driver licensing course for those who want to learn how to drive safely and to have fun while doing it. Colombia-Drivers-License.png' alt='Often Do Texas Drivers Licenses Expire' title='Often Do Texas Drivers Licenses Expire' />Instead, the largest recipient of ASCAP money is the organization itself, their lawyers, and their representatives, who are paid a commission to shake down small businesses across America. All of the money goes to lawyers in New York City, and most of it stays there. ASCAP and BMI pay royalties based on the radio airplay of a select group of corporate radio stations of their own choosing. They distribute some royalties to the composers and songwriters who they choose. The money is not distributed based on public performances but on arcane formulas devised by BMI and ASCAP. So what happens is, the band plays a Willie Nelson song, the money goes to ASCAP, and they pay Brittney Spears or the estate of Michael Jackson. Often Do Texas Drivers Licenses Expire' title='Often Do Texas Drivers Licenses Expire' />Its absolutely fucked up. ASCAPs policies are determined by its 1. So, if you did not receive royalty money from ASCAP last year, you cannot vote this year. Because of this, it is unlikely that changes to make sure new writers and publishers get a fair share will ever come from within ASCAP. As a recording artist or composer, you could have The Original Soundtrack of the Second Coming of Christ, the Attending Angels singing backup, Elijah on the Front, Moses doing Promotion, and confirmed tour dates, and never collect one penny. During the past ten years, ASCAP and BMI have become more aggressive in their collection extortion techniques. For example, when a nightclub owner signs the papers to pay ASCAP or BMI royalties, he actually signs away his right to protest. This would be illegal in any other kind of contract, but ASCAP received the stamp of approval of the US District Court in Manhattan which has been their pet court for decades. If the owner of a business ever pays ASCAP or BMI one time, he had better pay them forever, because he has signed a self renewing contract that never ends. He has agreed to pay them from now on. This is why ASCAP often sues businesses who quit paying them, but seldom sues businesses who never pay. Read this excerpt from the ASCAP contract that club and restaurant owners sign The term of this Agreement shall be for a period commencing on the date hereof and continuing indefinitelyUnlike any other legal contract, the BMI and ASCAP contracts say that they can raise the price at their own discretion, and there isnt anything the business owner can do about it. Heres another excerpt The Society shall have the right to adopt from time to time such systems, means, methods and formulae for the establishment of a members apportionment and distribution of royalties as will assure a fair, just and equitable distribution of royalties among the membership. So, ASCAP and BMI can charge whatever they want, raise their prices any time, and you are on the hook forever. Lately, both groups are trying to work together, and they have gone after karaoke, jukeboxes, and internet music providers. BMI and ASCAPs argument is that, since most musical compositions are registered by one or the other, an establishment must buy licenses from both to protect it from copyright infringement lawsuits. Not many establishments are willing to talk about their licensing situation, and neither BMI nor ASCAP will release a list of licensed establishments. But chances are that a large number perhaps a majority of bars and clubs in our area are unlicensed and many are currently being approached by ASCAP and BMI demanding money. Another licensing group called SESAC, which represents mostly gospel and country music, also uses the same strategy and tactics. BMI and ASCAP charge a sliding scale for licenses The smaller the venue, the smaller the fees. That means it really doesnt matter how many customers you have, you pay for the size of the bar. In Texas, where everything is bigger, we pay more. Walter Benjamin Ensayos Escogidos Pdf: Full Version Software. ASCAP and BMI are the reason why many of the large dancehalls that used to be a fixture in Texas have closed down forever. These places used to have one or two big nights a month, but sat empty most other nights. They couldnt afford to pay ASCAP and BMI for all of the empty seats, so they finally closed their doors.