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BMI requiring licenses for Part 15 radio stations?

This has to be a joke.. what part 15 makes any money?
what listening audience Me myself and I.
$200 license fee..for a Part15 it should be Free. ok they want to make money
Ill pay $5 a year for a part15 If it will let me play my music library under its license. Not $200
soon they will start stopping People with IPOD's on street corners.
and give them a choice hand over the IPOD or sign this form with a credit card and Charge $200 Per IPOD...
I better Not give them any ideas.

Ohh yeah freq and call letters.... Ummmmmmm
OK lets say I live in florida
Ill be on 770khz and my Calls Ummm Got it WABC...
yeah that will work... anyone from Nevada want to sign up
using 660khz and calls WNBC.... that will drive them Bats....
ok the guys on the east coast use West Coast calls and Freq
and the guys with part 15 out on the west coast use East coast Calls and Freq
We can drive BMI Nuts LOL


> http://www.bmi.com/licensing/forms/part15_radio_license.pdf
>
> What's next? Going after those little transmitters on Ipods?
>
>
> (BTW: I couldn't find anything similar for ASCAP or
> SESAC....)
>
 
> http://www.bmi.com/licensing/forms/part15_radio_license.pdf
>
> What's next? Going after those little transmitters on Ipods?
>
>
> (BTW: I couldn't find anything similar for ASCAP or
> SESAC....)
>
Not only is it true, but they are going around E-Mailing part 15 operaters asking for money.

I signed my part 15 AM off in December of 2004.

In spring 2005 I kept getting E-Mails asking if my station was on the air. I replied "no"

and every few months they kept following up.

If I get 1 more E-Mail I am going to report them for harassment or spam. Nothing new so far.<P ID="signature">______________

</P>
 
> >
> http://www.bmi.com/licensing/forms/part15_radio_license.pdf
> >
> > What's next? Going after those little transmitters on
> Ipods?
> >
> >
> > (BTW: I couldn't find anything similar for ASCAP or
> > SESAC....)
> >
> Not only is it true, but they are going around E-Mailing
> part 15 operaters asking for money.
>
> I signed my part 15 AM off in December of 2004.
>
> In spring 2005 I kept getting E-Mails asking if my station
> was on the air. I replied "no"
>
> and every few months they kept following up.
>
> If I get 1 more E-Mail I am going to report them for
> harassment or spam. Nothing new so far.
>


I can't believe these post that i'm reading...do these clowns actually drive around listening and monitor signals that only go to the lightpost?
How do they find you? Unless you promo your station close by on an interstate highway. It's amazing. One possible reason I haven't been harrassed is that I do have monthly legal service that I advertise on my web site in case I do get sued myself. And it has been effective. Especially when you been with them for several years.
 
> This has to be a joke.. what part 15 makes any money?
> what listening audience Me myself and I.
> $200 license fee..for a Part15 it should be Free. ok they
> want to make money


Thing is, they require BMI/SESAC/ASCAP licenseing for internet radio and how many internet radio folks are "making money" I sure the heck are not. So I can see them going after small Part 15ers (even if the $$$ figures are not there for them).

--Matt<P ID="signature">______________
Program Director/Music Director
X Music Online
The X
Today's Best Music
http://www.xmusiconline.com/</P>
 
There is a difference between a part 15 station and an internet station.
f your streaming On the Internet Your playing the music for some one other than yourself to listen to it.. and you know you have listeners On the internet.
Part 15 if done correctly should only Cover a few hundred feet(legally that is)
so you may have a handful of listeners On the Internet you could have thousands...
I agree that streamers should pay... Not part 15's
>
> Thing is, they require BMI/SESAC/ASCAP licenseing for
> internet radio and how many internet radio folks are "making
> money" I sure the heck are not. So I can see them going
> after small Part 15ers (even if the $$$ figures are not
> there for them).
>
> --Matt
>
 
> There is a difference between a part 15 station and an
> internet station.
> f your streaming On the Internet Your playing the music
> for some one other than yourself to listen to it.. and you
> know you have listeners On the internet.
> Part 15 if done correctly should only Cover a few hundred
> feet(legally that is)
> so you may have a handful of listeners On the Internet you
> could have thousands...
> I agree that streamers should pay... Not part 15's
> >
> > Thing is, they require BMI/SESAC/ASCAP licenseing for
> > internet radio and how many internet radio folks are
> "making
> > money" I sure the heck are not. So I can see them going
> > after small Part 15ers (even if the $$$ figures are not
> > there for them).
> >
> > --Matt
> >

Stupid statement.....i don't think anyone should pay if it's a hobby. I can see a percentage charge based on what the station made as profit for the year.
If you didn't make a paycheck for the year....you don't owe any taxes.

>
 
Stupid Statement I think NOT.

Tell that to the IRS LOL
do you own a home? Do you pay rent? do you own a car?
do you Eat?
even if you dont make a paycheck and you do ANY of the above. that means you had to make MONEY even if its Cash. and you dint pay any Taxes.. you will OWE Taxes..
the Only way out of paying Taxes is to Be DEAD and even with that THe IRS makes Mistakes and trys to Tax the Dead. Or living spouses out whats left to them. I can Give Each of my Kids $10k a year Tax free However when they Spend It...it will Be Taxed One way or another...
I broke my Neck in 95. I was on My back for 4 years... I received a Tax free Workmans comp check twice a month. I still had to Pay state and Local taxes on my house.gas bills, Electric bill... The IRS saw a drop in My Income and thought I was withholding from them...It took 2 years to get them off my case that my income was Tax free.. and Ended up in a bankruptsy to show I was Broke.
Screwed up My credit for 10 years, the only thing resolved was They were off my back. and I still have to pay...... Musicians need to get paid. when you Buy a CD or recorded material you are paying a royality Fee for Yourself to listen to that recording( that may include family members not sure). But that does not allow you to play for an Entire Town. thats why there is a BMI and ASCAP.
To Collect For the artists.
But in One aspect I agree.. Its a hobby as Long as its Part 15 and within the legal contours ( Legal RF field measurment basically a few hundred feet. I think your Right it should Be Free.. Next will be Everyone with an IPOD that has an RF transmitter on it.. Hey thats Part 15 also.

Neal
>
> Stupid statement.....i don't think anyone should pay if it's
> a hobby. I can see a percentage charge based on what the
> station made as profit for the year.
> If you didn't make a paycheck for the year....you don't owe
> any taxes.
>
> >
>
 
Look this $200 fee makes no damn sense for a part15. Thats what I have to pay for our LPFM station. Sounds like some corruption is hard at work here. They say they
take into account for the limited coverage area/listernship. Thats hogwash. Charging part 15 the same as LPFMs is just highway robbery, it should be FREE!


> http://www.bmi.com/licensing/forms/part15_radio_license.pdf
>
> What's next? Going after those little transmitters on Ipods?
>
>
> (BTW: I couldn't find anything similar for ASCAP or
> SESAC....)
> <P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by Squatfm on 02/26/06 04:16 PM.</FONT></P>
 
> Stupid Statement I think NOT.
>
> Tell that to the IRS LOL
> do you own a home? Do you pay rent? do you own a car?
> do you Eat?
> even if you dont make a paycheck and you do ANY of the
> above. that means you had to make MONEY even if its Cash.
> and you dint pay any Taxes.. you will OWE Taxes..
> the Only way out of paying Taxes is to Be DEAD and even
> with that THe IRS makes Mistakes and trys to Tax the
> Dead. Or living spouses out whats left to them. I can Give
> Each of my Kids $10k a year Tax free However when they
> Spend It...it will Be Taxed One way or another...
> I broke my Neck in 95. I was on My back for 4 years... I
> received a Tax free Workmans comp check twice a month. I
> still had to Pay state and Local taxes on my house.gas
> bills, Electric bill... The IRS saw a drop in My Income and
> thought I was withholding from them...It took 2 years to get
> them off my case that my income was Tax free.. and Ended up
> in a bankruptsy to show I was Broke.
> Screwed up My credit for 10 years, the only thing resolved
> was They were off my back. and I still have to pay......
> Musicians need to get paid. when you Buy a CD or recorded
> material you are paying a royality Fee for Yourself to
> listen to that recording( that may include family members
> not sure). But that does not allow you to play for an Entire
> Town. thats why there is a BMI and ASCAP.
> To Collect For the artists.
> But in One aspect I agree.. Its a hobby as Long as its Part
> 15 and within the legal contours ( Legal RF field
> measurment basically a few hundred feet. I think your Right
> it should Be Free.. Next will be Everyone with an IPOD that
> has an RF transmitter on it.. Hey thats Part 15 also.
>
> Neal
> >

I wasn't posting this to get to a subject on auditing. I'm referring this post reflecting a hobby. When I buy a CD of an artist or compilation. I gave my full regards to part of the artists royalites and the publishing companies profits for wanting to purchase and pay for it. Period!
Now if I want to share my CD with a friend or a neighbor or for the whole city to hear it....that's my right, as long as I don't profit from it.
Plus if a friend or someone or the whole town purchases that same CD from my influence or exposing it to them.....BMI, BMG should pay me a referral or promotional fee. I made them money for exposing it which resulted in more sales. Not for me....for them.

What's next....if I offer someone my other sandwich, because I may want to prove that this retail place offers good food, or I wasn't hungry enough to finish it.....but prevented that food place from selling a sandwich that day, because I offered one to a friend....do I get sued for food sharing?

You don't get it....The Radio Broadcasters are behind this by putting pressure that they want no one on the air but themselves. Even the internet, because I'm going thru hell to keep my internet station DCMA compliant. Biggest bunch of s*** I can think of.

Someone comes to my door asking for money I'm not making a cent on...there gonna get my fist.




> > Stupid statement.....i don't think anyone should pay if
> it's
> > a hobby. I can see a percentage charge based on what the
> > station made as profit for the year.
> > If you didn't make a paycheck for the year....you don't
> owe
> > any taxes.
> >
> > >
> >
>
 
> What's next? Going after those little transmitters on Ipods?

Unfortunately, maybe. But that would make for one interesting test case.

The whole thing is absurd, but it goes to show that BMI's lawyers have far too much time on their hands. And as in the RIAA's prosecutions of grandmothers who haven't downloaded anything at all, it's yet another reason to support independent, self-produced CDs and artists.
 
How to avoid BMI

> I can't believe these post that i'm reading...do these
> clowns actually drive around listening and monitor signals
> that only go to the lightpost?
> How do they find you? Unless you promo your station close by
> on an interstate highway. It's amazing. One possible reason
> I haven't been harrassed is that I do have monthly legal
> service that I advertise on my web site in case I do get
> sued myself. And it has been effective. Especially when you
> been with them for several years.
>

BMI (ASCAP, SESAC) find you when you get listed in directories or websites containing a lot of Part 15 stations. Just avoid filling out those forms and they won't know who you are.

If you're already listed, treat their mailings as you would treat a collection agency that has no ability to affect your credit. Since you have never signed a contract with them, they have no legal authority to collect from you.

Ignore them. It's just a money collection scam for BMI. And remember, none of the money BMI collects from you goes to support the artists anyway. More likely it's going into somebody's nose. But if you want to support that, go ahead.


-Disgusted Dick
 
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