Bob.  I agree.  Buoycot BMI.  There are plenty of other songs out  
there.......
But...as long as you don't list the songs in the program BMI will  
never know what is played at your venue.
Michael

On Jul 30, 2009, at 9:24 AM, Bob Boyer wrote:

> Michael,
>
> That's kind of what I found working in a licensing cooperative for
> photographers years ago. I'm well aware of the need for licensing
> organizations and royalties systems for artists but I'm also  
> personally
> aware of how lesser known artists get screwed by these kind of
> organizations.
>
> I am however, thinking a boycott of music that is licensed through  
> BMI may
> be in order. We just tell the artists that we'll hire them as long  
> as they
> only perform music licensed by ASCAP or other organzations.
>
> Just my next .02. Seriously, we need more information and we do need  
> to come
> up with a response. Tania, can you scan to email at your shop? If  
> not, fax
> me a copy of your letter and I'll scan it into a pdf for  
> distribution to
> all. That will at least get us started.
>
> The fax number here is: 423.425.4632.
>
> FWIW, our license is apparently only campus-wide, not system wide.  
> I've got
> to track it down to the Provost's office since that's where it  
> landed a few
> years ago and has been administered by since then.
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bob
>
>
> Robert Boyer
> Patten Performances Director
> UTC Fine Arts Center
> 615 McCallie Avenue, Dept 1351
> Chattanooga, TN 37403
> 423.425.4379
> www.utc.edu/finearts
>
> -----Original Message-
>
> ----
> From: Tennessee Presenters, Board & Agents  
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> Behalf Of Michael Jefry Stevens
> Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2009 10:02 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Music Licensing
>
> 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.