Taylor Swift Sues Small Idaho Bar?
By: Matt Bjorke
According to a report on the TMZ website, Taylor Swift has supposedly joined a lawsuit against a small Idaho sports bar called The Sports Cellar. The website says that song rights managament company BMI sent out an 'agent' to the sports bar and found that it was playing music, which includes Taylor Swift music, without paying royalties for it. Included in the lawsuit are gasp Karaoke tracks.
What is interesting about this case is that it's not likely to reap much, if any, money for BMI or Swift so why even bother in the first place. While the bar probably should've joined Muzak for their music or a jukebox server, it's not as if many small town places don't do the same thing The Sports Cellar was doing. Wouldn't it have been better to try and work an agreement out with this small bar before suing them. Also, the only reason anyone's hearing about it is because Taylor Swift's name is mentioned in the lawsuit.
READER'S COMMENTS
DJ Dan says:
Posted: Sunday, January 3, 2010
Even if the bar had Muzak or a jukebox, they would still have to pay royalties. Bars can bring substantial wealth. Because they had bands and KJs for entertainment, they would attract more patrons than a pub without any attraction. There's bars that make a killing in every state, I would wager. They were money hungry, not BMI. Let 'em burn in copyright hell!
Rick says:
Posted: Thursday, November 19, 2009
As mentioned previously attaching Taylor Swift's name to this action and news release guarantees broad dissemination in the media. The artists and licensing agencies have a legal right to crack down on cheaters and deadbeats who play their music in an unauthorized fashion, so Taylor is just supporting a legitimate campaign. This action is a shot across the bow to scare other similar violators into doing the right thing!
Heather Edwards says:
Posted: Thursday, November 19, 2009
I'm sure BMI didn't go from just having an agent find out about non-payment, to sueing. This bar was first notified by certified letter to cease and desist, etc. I guarantee this bar simply wouldn't do whhat they legally should have done, in order to play copyright protected music.
MGH says:
Posted: Thursday, November 19, 2009
They should be paying the bar to play her music as they do radio stations to play her no talent, no voice music. Her name should be registered as "Payola Extreme".
Matt Bjorke says:
Posted: Thursday, November 19, 2009
Yes, it is that and it's totally understandable but shouldn't they have come at the bar with a proposal before suing them?
ADR says:
Posted: Thursday, November 19, 2009
It's copyright infringement. They should have been licensed as required by federal law. Too bad so sad. Don't steal music, don't get sued.
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