Stupid greedy at that. A neighborhood restaurant had Kareoke three nights a week. ASCAP came in with the shake down. There were two dining rooms that were secluded from the lounge. ASCAP wanted to charge for “total occupancy”. No more Kareoke. So instead of getting the revenue from the lounge. They get nothing.
ASCAP was already getting money from the sale of those karaoke discs too.