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The BMI

J

JeremyAndrews

Is there anyway to get through to these people that my damn part 15 AM radio station that they keep bugging me and following up on is OFF THE AIR? I took the damn transmitter apart for crying out loud and they keep sending me these irritating follow up E-Mails. They are part of the friggen reason why the damn station is off the air. The damn transmitter is sitting in a BOX in a bunch of pieces not in use. I reply to their E-Mails time and time again saying that I am no longer broadcasting and they keep insisting on sending me these annoying E-Mails.

Special thanks to these arseclowns, I no longer do part 15 transmissions for anything other then private home listening of my MP3 players. The way they keep "following up" on me is basically making me feel like a criminal being followed up on by the police.

By the way, part 15 broadcasting in my current opinion is a big waste of time and money. NOBODY can hear it and you'll just wind up getting bugged by the BMI asking for even more money for absolutely nothing.

(End rant)

<P ID="signature">______________

AIM: JeremyA1069</P>
 
Re: The BMI do you mean like this e-mail?

I am writing to inquire about the radio stations that Radio Brandy has. Do you have WCRV and WILW? Are these both Part 15 stations?

BMI has a new Part 15 license specifically for Part 15 stations to cover any BMI music that is played on the signals.

Who can I speak to directly regarding these stations?

Amy Perdue
Manager, Medium Markets
(615)401-2949
(615)401-2104
[email protected]

Steve
Radio Brandy/XRQK


> Is there anyway to get through to these people that my damn
> part 15 AM radio station that they keep bugging me and
> following up on is OFF THE AIR? I took the damn transmitter
> apart for crying out loud and they keep sending me these
> irritating follow up E-Mails. They are part of the friggen
> reason why the damn station is off the air. The damn
> transmitter is sitting in a BOX in a bunch of pieces not in
> use. I reply to their E-Mails time and time again saying
> that I am no longer broadcasting and they keep insisting on
> sending me these annoying E-Mails.
>
> Special thanks to these arseclowns, I no longer do part 15
> transmissions for anything other then private home listening
> of my MP3 players. The way they keep "following up" on me is
> basically making me feel like a criminal being followed up
> on by the police.
>
> By the way, part 15 broadcasting in my current opinion is a
> big waste of time and money. NOBODY can hear it and you'll
> just wind up getting bugged by the BMI asking for even more
> money for absolutely nothing.
>
> (End rant)
>
 
Re: The BMI do you mean like this e-mail?

> I am writing to inquire about the radio stations that Radio
> Brandy has. Do you have WCRV and WILW? Are these both Part
> 15 stations?
>
> BMI has a new Part 15 license specifically for Part 15
> stations to cover any BMI music that is played on the
> signals.
>
> Who can I speak to directly regarding these stations?
>
> Amy Perdue
> Manager, Medium Markets
> (615)401-2949
> (615)401-2104
> [email protected]
>
> Steve
> Radio Brandy/XRQK
>
> Had to laugh at this one Steve!!
Looks like they want you to pay for Carl and William Walker's stations.
> > Is there anyway to get through to these people that my
> damn
> > part 15 AM radio station that they keep bugging me and
> > following up on is OFF THE AIR? I took the damn
> transmitter
> > apart for crying out loud and they keep sending me these
> > irritating follow up E-Mails. They are part of the friggen
>
> > reason why the damn station is off the air. The damn
> > transmitter is sitting in a BOX in a bunch of pieces not
> in
> > use. I reply to their E-Mails time and time again saying
> > that I am no longer broadcasting and they keep insisting
> on
> > sending me these annoying E-Mails.
> >
> > Special thanks to these arseclowns, I no longer do part 15
>
> > transmissions for anything other then private home
> listening
> > of my MP3 players. The way they keep "following up" on me
> is
> > basically making me feel like a criminal being followed up
>
> > on by the police.
> >
> > By the way, part 15 broadcasting in my current opinion is
> a
> > big waste of time and money. NOBODY can hear it and you'll
>
> > just wind up getting bugged by the BMI asking for even
> more
> > money for absolutely nothing.
> >
> > (End rant)
> >
>
<P ID="signature">______________
Proudly remembering the days of the hometown "country giant" radio stations now at
http://www.live365.com/stations/alanmccall</P>
 
Re: The BMI do you mean like this e-mail?

> I am writing to inquire about the radio stations that Radio
> Brandy has. Do you have WCRV and WILW? Are these both Part
> 15 stations?
>
> BMI has a new Part 15 license specifically for Part 15
> stations to cover any BMI music that is played on the
> signals.
>
> Who can I speak to directly regarding these stations?
>
> Amy Perdue
> Manager, Medium Markets
> (615)401-2949
> (615)401-2104
> [email protected]
>
> Steve
> Radio Brandy/XRQK
>
>
Same person. The only thing is that she doesn't mention that the BMI has licences. She just sends occational irritating E-Mails asking if I am on the air.

If

1. I was on the air
2. Covered enough people to make it worth it
3. Made at least SOME revenue off of it

I would have no problem paying the licence fees. But

1. I'm not broadcasting
2. It doesn't cover anything but concrete (sidewalk)
3. I don't make that kind of money to throw away to the concrete every month
<P ID="signature">______________

AIM: JeremyA1069</P>
 
> Is there anyway to get through to these people that my damn
> part 15 AM radio station that they keep bugging me and
> following up on is OFF THE AIR? I took the damn transmitter
> apart for crying out loud and they keep sending me these
> irritating follow up E-Mails. They are part of the friggen
> reason why the damn station is off the air. The damn
> transmitter is sitting in a BOX in a bunch of pieces not in
> use. I reply to their E-Mails time and time again saying
> that I am no longer broadcasting and they keep insisting on
> sending me these annoying E-Mails.

First line of defense would be to invoke your email reader's block sender function for the BMI jerk. The repeated emails you are getting are most likely being automatically generated. You can just as easily automatically block them.

If that's not enough for you, get the jerk's address and send a registered letter stating your current off-the-air status. Keep a copy and the receipt for the future, just in case BMI shifts gears from lunacy to psychotic behaviour.

For anyone else that gets an email from BMI, don't reply. Ignore it and put them on your block senders list.

<P ID="signature">______________
Phil B
</P>
 
> Is there anyway to get through to these people that my damn
> part 15 AM radio station that they keep bugging me and
> following up on is OFF THE AIR? I took the damn transmitter
> apart for crying out loud and they keep sending me these
> irritating follow up E-Mails.

As other people have said, just ignore these e-mails, and if you can, block them. If BMI is really *that* concerned about your past, present, and future radio activities, they'll contact you IN WRITING, via postal mail.
<P ID="signature">______________
noiboc.jpg

"This is the New York Emergency Broadcast System satellite channel. They took the crosstown bus."</P>
 
> Is there anyway to get through to these people that my damn
> part 15 AM radio station that they keep bugging me and
> following up on is OFF THE AIR? I took the damn transmitter
> apart for crying out loud and they keep sending me these
> irritating follow up E-Mails. They are part of the friggen
> reason why the damn station is off the air. The damn
> transmitter is sitting in a BOX in a bunch of pieces not in
> use. I reply to their E-Mails time and time again saying
> that I am no longer broadcasting and they keep insisting on
> sending me these annoying E-Mails.
>
> Special thanks to these arseclowns, I no longer do part 15
> transmissions for anything other then private home listening
> of my MP3 players. The way they keep "following up" on me is
> basically making me feel like a criminal being followed up
> on by the police.
>
> By the way, part 15 broadcasting in my current opinion is a
> big waste of time and money. NOBODY can hear it and you'll
> just wind up getting bugged by the BMI asking for even more
> money for absolutely nothing.
>
> (End rant)
>

I was curious to see the e-mail you got and who the shark (or sharkette) was who sent it.

As for Part-15 broadcasting being a waste, well it depends on your motive for going into it.

For many it is just a hobby not unlike Ham radio. After all, there's no economic advantage to having a ham radio rig but thousands (as my late brother did) love the opportunity of speaking with someone with a similar interest on the other side of the world. Others love the challenge of, in a way, defying the laws of physics by sending out a terribly weak signal and seeing how far they can get it to travel. For still others, it satisfies an irresistible urge to be heard, if only within the confines of a few blocks or a mile. After all, few people will ever make a dime from podcasting but that isn't stopping hundreds from doing it.

Still others see it as training or a rehearsal for LPFM/AM and understanding the technical and operations side of broadcasting. That's how I see it.

Admittedly lately, I've been thinking more and more about internet radio. I am very excited by the new mobile devices that are becoming more music and Wi-Fi savvy. That coupled with each city and community building its own Wi-Fi mesh has great potential for net radio casters. I think it will eventually make terrestrial radio irrelevant. Nothing would give me greater pleasure then to tell the NAB, the media conglomerates and especially the FCC to take their lobbying, their overregulation, their arcane and unfair auction process and totally shove it where the sun don't shine. Now I'm ranting.

But don't be too discouraged by the few negatives of Part-15 broadcasting or by slimeball outfits like BMI trying to get a taste of some imaginary earnings, just keep it in perspective, enjoy it and hope that someday your work will pay off. The suggestions below are good ones. I've used similar tactics with other unwelcomed e-mail senders.

db
 
Re: The BMI do you mean like this e-mail?

> I am writing to inquire about the radio stations that Radio
> Brandy has. Do you have WCRV and WILW? Are these both Part
> 15 stations?
>
> BMI has a new Part 15 license specifically for Part 15
> stations to cover any BMI music that is played on the
> signals.
>
> Who can I speak to directly regarding these stations?
>
> Amy Perdue
> Manager, Medium Markets
> (615)401-2949
> (615)401-2104
> [email protected]
>
> Steve
> Radio Brandy/XRQK

Good grief! I hope you didn't reply with anything other than (expletive deleted) to this absurd fishing expedition! "Amy Perdue" needs to get a life and find a real job.
<P ID="signature">______________
Phil B
</P>
 
Screw BMI

> Is there anyway to get through to these people that my damn
> part 15 AM radio station that they keep bugging me and
> following up on is OFF THE AIR? I took the damn transmitter
> apart for crying out loud and they keep sending me these
> irritating follow up E-Mails. They are part of the friggen
> reason why the damn station is off the air. The damn
> transmitter is sitting in a BOX in a bunch of pieces not in
> use. I reply to their E-Mails time and time again saying
> that I am no longer broadcasting and they keep insisting on
> sending me these annoying E-Mails.

Tell them to bone off. BMI has a blanket agreement with licensed broadcast stations. That's it. THEY HAVE NO LEGAL RIGHT TO CHARGE PART 15 BROADCASTERS.

The terms of the Blanket Agreement specifically require that you be an FCC Licensed broadcaster. Part 15 is NOT part of that.

Don't talk to these weasels if you don't have a license. Yes, they're BMI and they administer rights for copyright holders. But they have no legal authority to collect from Part 15 broadcasters.

Let's assume you're not running a jukebox or operating a cabaret on the side, and don't fall under those rules.

They will keep sending you letters as long as they think it's worth the investment. Once they've figured out that you're not playing, they can't get a return on investment, probably about $1 to mail you a notice.

Send them a note back and ask them under what specific legal authority they are collecting this money. And ask them for a refund of the money you already sent them. It might not shut them up, or it might. But it will certainly feel good.

Maybe I missed something at jailhouse law school, but I can find nothing to prove that BMI or ASCAP asking Part 15 broadcasters for money is anything but a revenue-enhancement scam.
 
Re: Screw BMI

RFRY, this is true and my own research uncovered this same fact.

Perhaps a Class Action lawsuit should be brought against BMI by the part 15 broadcasters to put a stop to this. I am sure that a few hundred part 15 broadcasters could afford to pony up enough money to hire a lawyer to go after BMI if they continue to harass stations or more specifically stations that don't exist such as Jake Thomas. If they attempt to collect ANY money from me I will threaten to sue them especially if I am not even on the air.

In response to an earlier message about someone being contacted about my own part 15 station. My station has been off the air since February 2004. WILW Radio is not a station and merely a website used to dispense information of interest to community broadcasters. If and when my part 15 AM station returns to the air it will use a different set of call letters not presently in use by a licensed station.



> > Is there anyway to get through to these people that my
> damn
> > part 15 AM radio station that they keep bugging me and
> > following up on is OFF THE AIR? I took the damn
> transmitter
> > apart for crying out loud and they keep sending me these
> > irritating follow up E-Mails. They are part of the friggen
>
> > reason why the damn station is off the air. The damn
> > transmitter is sitting in a BOX in a bunch of pieces not
> in
> > use. I reply to their E-Mails time and time again saying
> > that I am no longer broadcasting and they keep insisting
> on
> > sending me these annoying E-Mails.
>
> Tell them to bone off. BMI has a blanket agreement with
> licensed broadcast stations. That's it. THEY HAVE NO LEGAL
> RIGHT TO CHARGE PART 15 BROADCASTERS.
>
> The terms of the Blanket Agreement specifically require that
> you be an FCC Licensed broadcaster. Part 15 is NOT part of
> that.
>
> Don't talk to these weasels if you don't have a license.
> Yes, they're BMI and they administer rights for copyright
> holders. But they have no legal authority to collect from
> Part 15 broadcasters.
>
> Let's assume you're not running a jukebox or operating a
> cabaret on the side, and don't fall under those rules.
>
> They will keep sending you letters as long as they think
> it's worth the investment. Once they've figured out that
> you're not playing, they can't get a return on investment,
> probably about $1 to mail you a notice.
>
> Send them a note back and ask them under what specific legal
> authority they are collecting this money. And ask them for a
> refund of the money you already sent them. It might not shut
> them up, or it might. But it will certainly feel good.
>
> Maybe I missed something at jailhouse law school, but I can
> find nothing to prove that BMI or ASCAP asking Part 15
> broadcasters for money is anything but a revenue-enhancement
> scam.
>
 
Who is Who?

> RFRY, this is true and my own research uncovered
> this same fact.
_______

The person posting under the name "Dick Fry" on this board is not the same individual as "rfry" (me).

"Dick Fry" here shows his email address as [email protected]. Probably this poster is NOT the founder of AOL, though.

I guess for his own reasons he doesn't want his true identity known. But it sure isn't me.
 
Re: Screw BMI

> THEY HAVE NO LEGAL RIGHT TO CHARGE PART 15 BROADCASTERS.

Not exactly true. Part 15 stations, Carrier Current, CAFM at schools have had to have BMI/ASCAP/SESAC licenses for years, and are usually covered by the master school use agreement. If you use copywritten music, there is a license that governs its use, and this includes the purchase of CDs at your local Walmart. If you stream, add to that RIAA fees. If they are not charging hobby broadcasters, then a phone call or letter should clear it up, and get the inquiries to stop. However, these guys are pretty stubborn when it comes to getting every legal penny for the works they represent, and do go after unauthorized use with a vengenace.
 
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