Bruce Calls Out the Lawyers…

Posted by Bob Bickell

February 14, 2010

Welcome back!

“Poor men wanna be rich, rich men wanna be kings, And a king ain’t satisfied till he rules everything” - Bruce Springsteen

With all that’s going on in this crazy world (including the brutal economic conditions) I would like to think that Bruce Springsteen has more on his mind than a band in a New York bar playing three of his songs. I was recently in a place in Sarasota, Florida and that band played at least twenty-five of the Beatles hits and as far as I know, neither Paul nor Ringo have reacted legally or in any other way. Yoko might be another matter.

And please don’t tell me that ASCAP is part of this picture, but of course it is. Their Senior Vice-President of Licensing had this to say… “It’s not about him as a recording artist. In this instance, he’s simply a songwriter with rights.”

Believe it or not, it’s now 2010 and the world of music has changed quite dramatically. I can go on You Tube and listen to the Boss all day, but heaven help me if other people hear it in a place such as Connolly’s Pub & Restaurant in New York. Both Bruce and the people from ASCAP will go bananas.

I’m a major fan of Bruce Springsteen and I will give him a pass for his attempt to safeguard the rights of his fellow musicians, but in my opinion, the concept of ASCAP is no longer viable (as if it ever was). Let the bars play the music – the exposure is good for the artist. It’s time to bring a stop to this insanity.

Sirius Radio in your bar and restaurant might be a good idea simply because you won’t have to deal with the ASCAP’s of the world who remain busy trying to extort money from an already struggling business. Sirius pays the ASCAP fees as part of your package and just not dealing with them will make your life a lot more peaceful.

Restaurant Management