Free Republic

As advertisers, affiliates and the general public continue to raise cain over Rush Limbaugh’s inflammatory comments about Sandra Fluke, another party has added his voice to the protest. A rep for singer/songwriter Peter Gabriel posted a message on his Facebook page insisting that the Brit's music no longer be used on Limbaugh’s radio show. Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” was utilized in the background of Limbaugh’s now-infamous rant, in which he called the Georgetown student a “slut” and a “prostitute.” The Facebook message reads: “Peter was appalled to learn that his music was linked to Rush Limbaugh’s extraordinary attack on Sandra Fluke. It...

A live performance of two songs has subjected a local bar to a fine of at least $1,500 and potentially as much as $30,000 per tune over alleged copyright violations involved. The Vanishing Point Bar & Grill at 1125 W. Lebanon St. in Mount Airy is one of 21 establishments across the nation which have had infringement actions filed against them by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). That organization has a membership of 380,000 songwriters and others who represent 8.5 million copyrighted musical works of every format. Among ASCAP’s stated functions is obtaining license fees from...

Bruce Springsteen wants his name off a lawsuit demanding licensing fees from a Manhattan bar where a band played his songs. A statement on Springsteen's Web site Thursday said he didn't know about the lawsuit that was filed Wednesday in federal court and wouldn't have agreed to be a plaintiff if he had been asked. It says Springsteen's representatives demanded the immediate removal of his name Thursday morning after learning about the lawsuit filed by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers... The suit claims Connolly's Pub violated Springsteen's copyrights by letting an unidentified band perform two of his...

ASCAP Makes Outlandish Copyright Claims on Cell Phone Ringtones EFF Argues Phones Ringing in Public Do Not Violate Copyright Law New York - The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) urged a federal court Wednesday to reject bogus copyright claims in a ringtone royalty battle that could raise costs for consumers, jeopardize consumer rights, and curtail new technological innovation.Millions of Americans have bought musical ringtones, often clips from favorite popular songs, for their mobile phones. Mobile phone carriers pay royalties to song owners for the right to sell these snippets to their customers. But as part of a ploy to squeeze more...

...These grass-roots music events... have come up against the demands of US copyright law, as enforced by a handful of companies who act as collection agents for songwriters and composers. The law states that no performer in a public venue can present someone else's copyrighted music without their permission and, usually, without compensating them. A number of agencies, chief among them... BMI and... ASCAP, charge music venues an annual copyright "license fee" ranging from $300 to nearly $10,000 for the privilege of presenting someone else's music. Much of the music at those Ragged Edge open mics was written by the...

Ann and Nancy Wilson are p*ssed at the Republican Party and have fired off a cease and desist letter to the McCain/Palin campaign. Specifically, the Heart women are upset that the GOP has used their classic "Barracuda" as a theme song for Sarah Palin. TMZ obtained a statement from Heart's rep, who says "The Republican campaign did not ask for permission to use the song, nor would they have been granted that permission." The statement goes on: "We have asked the Republican campaign publicly not to use our music. We hope our wishes will be honored."

Last night, Barack Obama’s exit music at the close of his historic Democratic convention acceptance speech was “Only in America,” a song by country’s foremost multiplatinum duo.

An Urgent Message From Marilyn Bergman Copyright Royalty Board Begins Critical Mechanical Rates Hearing January 28, 2008 To All ASCAP Members, Over the years, ASCAP has worked tirelessly to convince Congress and the courts that all songwriters, composers and music publishers are entitled to fair compensation for their copyrighted musical works. As you know, ASCAP represents the performing right, a large and growing part of your compensation. But mechanical and synchronization rights are also a critical element of your livelihood. Today, the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) begins a hearing that will determine mechanical rates for every songwriter and music publisher...

Bob Bittner coined the phrase “Easy as the breeze” serving up hits from the likes of Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin and the Beach Boys on WJIB. But times are not so easy now for the tiny Cambridge station, as Bittner was recently hit with huge hikes in the monthly fees he pays to play old-style hits over the air. Though WJIB-AM (740) has always turned a small profit, Bittner said, the fee hikes from music-licensing groups BMI and ASCAP have him looking for a new way to keep the station running. WJIB previously paid about $260 a month to BMI...

March 9, 2005 — A Glendale Heights club has been sued by the legendary band Led Zeppelin. The club has apparently been playing the songs of Zeppelin and other groups without having paid the yearly licensing fee required of clubs, restaurants and bars. Chances are the surviving members of Led Zeppelin have no idea this suit even exists. But lawyers for the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers, or ASCAP, has filed suit against the owners of the club 602 North in Glendale Heights. The suit claims that during an October investigation of 602 North, songs by not only...

Press Release Source: ASCAP ASCAP Launches Infringement Actions against Establishments Performing Copyrighted Music without Permission Monday January 24, 1:27 pm ET NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 24, 2005--Today, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers filed 24 separate copyright infringement actions against nightclubs, bars, and restaurants in 15 states and the District of Columbia. These establishments (listed below) have publicly performed the copyrighted musical works of ASCAP's songwriter, composer and music publisher members without receiving their permission to do so, resulting in lost income. "Informing business owners of their obligations under Federal Copyright Law is one of ASCAP's key roles," said...

NEW YORK (ASCAP/ www.ascap.com) - The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers today announced an update of its Top 25 most-performed Holiday songs based on the Society's most recent performance data. Topping the list is "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" written by Robert Wells and the singing great, Mel Torme.

Meet New York's 'Naked Cowboy' By Jeff Pearlman Newsday staff writer Originally published May 15, 2003 The sky is gray and the afternoon is long, and if ever a Monday in New York City has felt interminable, it is today. On the neon financial news crawlers that help light up an otherwise damp Times Square, bleakness rules. UNEMPLOYMENT RATE RISES FROM 5.9% TO 6% ... PLANNED U.S. LAYOFFS INCREASE FROM 85,396 IN MARCH TO ',399 IN APRIL ... 95,000 AMERICAN MANUFACTURING JOBS LOST IN APRIL; BIGGEST DECLINE SINCE JAN. 2002. How then, to explain ... this?