Bob,

I agree that we need to give it serious thought and research before
picking up the phone and requesting a meeting.

I'd love to hear TAC's thoughts on this....

Thanks,
Tania


-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Boyer [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
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.