THis is an interesting discussion.  IN theory it sounds great.  BMI is  
raising it's artist's licensing fees.
But in practice, BMI does not pay most artists' very much at all.   
This is one of the reasons I quit BMI and joined GEMA in Germany,  
where I get money for recordings, performances, radio broadcasts,  
etc.  FOr jazz artists, BMI pays a lump sum every year to the artist  
which normally includes all royalties and starts at about $500 per  
year.  Most of the BMI money goes to BIG NAME ACTS and CLASSICAL  
COMPOSERS.
So whether they double their fees or triple their fees or whatever the  
likelihood that your average working artist will see any more money is  
slim and none.
Just my humble opinion.
Michael

Michael Jefry Stevens
1766 Autumn Ave
Memphis, TN 38112
901 276 6544
[log in to unmask]

On Jul 30, 2009, at 8:13 AM, Shimmin, Mimi (Parks) wrote:

> I would like to interject a comment here. Whatever their business
> methods may be, the purpose of the licensing organizations is to  
> collect
> artist's fees for the use of their work. Without artists none of us
> would be in business. This is a complicated and long running issue-we
> definitely need to gather all of the information we can and reach a
> consensus before we do anything.
> Mimi
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tennessee Presenters, Board & Agents  
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of Bob Boyer
> Sent: Wednesday, July 29, 2009 7:53 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Music Licensing
>
> Tania -
>
> I have no idea from our end. Ken Kapelinski at the Arena takes care of
> the licensing for all of UTC and there may in fact be a UT system-wide
> license. I know that our license covers all of our venues I just don't
> know if it is UTC-only, or if it is part of a system-wide license that
> covers all venues in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Memphis (if they have
> one) and Martin.
>
> I forwarded the pertinent emails to him to let him know it may be  
> coming
> to us. I'll be curious to see how the state of Tennessee responds.
>
> And yes, I'd think some sort of communications from TNPR might be in
> order. I think we need to figure out what we can accomplish (if
> anything) and how to go about it before just picking up the phone and
> asking for a meeting.
>
> My initial thought is to send a letter from TNPR protesting the hike
> with copies to the media and to our representatives asking for  
> Congress
> to hold some anti-trust hearings regarding the music industry and
> licensing in general. The overall heavy-handed nature of their  
> reaction
> to digital media still has me boiling and I'm a copyright holder  
> from my
> former life.
>
> As an organization, this may be the single most important issue we  
> could
> face on behalf of our members since our inception - we need to craft
> some sort of response and be ready to follow it through even if it  
> takes
> on life as a crusade.
>
> Bob
>
>
>
>
> On Jul 29, 2009, at 5:37 PM, Moskalenko, Tania wrote:
>
>> Christi,
>>
>> We haven't received anything from ASCAP yet.
>> Our SESAC fees haven't changed.  It is BMI that has dramatically
>> increased.
>>
>> I'm glad to hear that TPAC has requested a meeting with BMI.  I'm
>> wondering if TN Presenters needs to do the same on behalf of all our
>> members.  Bob-Any thoughts on this?
>>
>> One problem with this is the timing.  There was no advance notice in
>> order for us to prepare for these increases before we set our  
>> budgets!
>>
>> Please keep us posted on what TPAC learns and also on what the
>> symphony is doing.