BMI Sues Bar in Bridgewater For Playing Songs Without Permission (Gaga's)

[Benji 20,113]

​Wow, are you guys both in the UK? I'm in the US; at my previous job, we played the radio freely and the station was up to whomever was sitting at the desk (health office); at another job, there was music playing overhead already, but we were allowed to play whatever on our private radio and it was okay if patients heard it (pharmacy). I'm really surprised, but it makes a lot of sense!

​Well this is when it becomes a bit of a grey area  

You can play music, the radio, television, films etc without a license as long as you're not making money off of it. So in a shop they could argue (not that they would really be targeted) that it wasn't being used to provide entertainment and it did not increase their sells etc.

Whilst a pub, bar or club would need a license as it's providing entertainment as it's drawing in customers and making them money. For example, people would go to the pub to watch the big football game and they would also be providing custom whilst there so the pub is making money by using the media they're showing... but a shop isn't really gaining anything by playing music or whatever as it's not being used to gain them money.

It's quite hard to explain but basically, if it adds to someone's experience and could cause the venue to earn more money... they need a license. Where I work, we have the radio on all the time but the customers can't really hear it and we're not using it to profit off of it so it's okay. 

[DrewStevens 5,249]

Copyright laws are a ****ing mess.

[Katie14 4,828]

You go there too? I wonder if I know you.

[MonsterMum 2,532]

​Now I know! Wow, thank you so much guys.

​

​Wow, are you guys both in the UK? I'm in the US; at my previous job, we played the radio freely and the station was up to whomever was sitting at the desk (health office); at another job, there was music playing overhead already, but we were allowed to play whatever on our private radio and it was okay if patients heard it (pharmacy). I'm really surprised, but it makes a lot of sense!

​Nope I am from the Netherlands and I guess it's similar to UK laws in that regards. You can get a healthy fine too if anyone from our organisation Buma/Stemra calls in and hears music for example.

[TimisaMonster 31,073]

What difference does it make if I listen to radio or play it in a restaurant and now have to pay?

 

[Jay.P 2,331]

What? You have to pay to be able to play music in bars and restaurants? That's news to me 

[NewYorkCity 10,520]

These laws are a mess. It is the same in Spain. 

[bayonse 6,525]

I work in a bar and we've never payed for the music

[RAMROD 106,215]

This thread title enraged me because Gaga is not suing anyone, BMI did.

Imagine all the guests who visiting and mistaken this whole thing!

Is this some quick attention grab?

Did OP even read the news before posting?

On topic,

That is unfortunate.

Lucky that BMI only effective in some zones of the globe only.

Imagine those poor Asian places in Asia.

 

[ChicaSkas 22,421]

This is a complete waste of time. They could sue me for playing a radio at my block party then with the same songs? rediculous! 

[ChicaSkas 22,421]

Title terribly confusing, just corrected  it.

@OP, please be careful how you word things in news, they must be Gaga related and actually be accurate, in this case, Gaga is not directly suing a bar, her label is.

[Bradley 58,260]

Bad Romance ha impact.

[GagaMyBlood95 9,901]

Wait, restaurants have to pay to play music? I honestly had no idea. I hear these songs everywhere, even in small mom-and-pop businesses. I'm really surprised.

​Of course they have to.. It's just that there are probably MILLIONS of clubs and caffes all around the world that play hit songs and don't pay anything.

[Phlop 4,773]

I saw this all over my Facebook because I'm from NJ. They really try to make it seem like it's Gaga when it's BMI. Gaga could care less if people are playing her music lmao. And she's not the only artist on that list

[phantasmas 10,191]

what about drag queens who use so many popular songs for their performances?