A question you don't have to answer.

[dayers]

Hi Guys,
I have a question you don't have to answer if you don't want to. But I was just wondering !! Do tribute bands like WYWH (or any other tribute bands) have to pay fees (royalties) to the real Pink Floyd (or real other band) for performing their music and using their concepts. I was discussing this with a bass player I know who was in a nationally-known band (not a tribute band) and he wasn't sure of the answer either.

Thanks
See you April 17th at the Newport.

[Eroc]

Hi dayers -
That's actually a question I do hear once in awhile, thanks for asking.

Theoretically, every/any venue - be it a theater, concert club, bar, whatever - that hosts live music has to pay the licensing fees to BMI, ASCAP, or SESAC in order to have live music.
So, basically, the bands do not pay - the venue owners do.

One time, a "journalist", to use the term loosely in this case, started off his interview of me with the smug & sarcastic question - "how does it feel to be ripping off Pink Floyd?" Of course, I put him in his place - explaining that not only do the songwriters get the licensing royalties, but also how tribute bands like WYWH often help to spur sales of an artist's back catalog!
Needless to say, his attitude changed after that...


For more info, check out en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Performance_rights_organisation

Cheers!
Eroc

[PikoJoeATD]

A very good question, and answer!