WDJO and BMI Music Fees

[NDXUFan]

BMI is one of the music licensing organizations and our friends at the faux oldies music station(WDJO) has not been paying their music fees. Believe it or not, the original judgement was for a Grand total of $16,000.00 dollars. As always, 'DJO has not paid the judgement or claim.

Because they haven't paid, BMI has now included a list of their advertisers in a new claim. Here's the court filing:

http://www.courtclerk.org/case_summary.asp?sec=party&casenumber=A1301517

WDJO continues to circle the drain. Wonder how the few advertisers they have left will feel about getting a court order to make their payments to BMI?

 

[secondchoice]

Is that all the sponcers WDJO has?

 

[jry]

Some of this is trade.

If they have all of these judgements against them, how are they still functioning? Usually a few of the creditors get together and force a Chapter 7.

This is sad. I am sorry to see this happening.

 

[ToddyO]

I can see the judge bouncing this suit, or at minimum, remove all of the defending parties minus WDJO. To say that the Dragonfly organization (a non-profit) has anything to do with the contractual obligations between BMI and WDJO is ridiculous and frivolous.

 

[jry]

The whole idea behind what they did was to put a lot of pressure on WDJO. BMI probably believes that they are hanging on to some money and this will cause them to cough it up.... OR

They know that they'll have a hard time getting the dough and this puts WDJO out of business. What advertiser wants to be
be listed as a defendant and go through the hassle (and expense) of hiring an attorney to get this bounced out of court. In short, its punitive.

The advertisers scatter and then its all over. NOW, if Alchemy can prove that BMI is doing this as harassment, who knows what could happen.

 

[Icangelp]

I suggest a new owner & a change in format.

 

[ToddyO]

The format has changed! Female vocalists from the 60's? They existed? Tune in today and you'll hear a drastic different from when BMI filed their original suit!

 

[microbob]

They sound more like WGRR although WDJO has a deeper playlist with more 70's

 

[FRR]

It would be interesting to hear from Marty on this issue, if he is so inclined

 

[partymarty]

I've been gone so long now I'm out of the loop-- But I can't imagine clients are very happy about being served.

Hate to see all of this--- that place should have been a successful small family business

As for any music changes, I've not listened to them in quite some time. I just tried to pull a monitor but can't find any. If they have moved the music closer to WGRR, I would say that is the wrong move-- They need to play a large library of popular and unique music for the demographic epicenter of the AM market cume--- If a song is played on FM, it should (for the most part) be stricken from the playlist.

Just one man's opinion

 

[KFodor]

I can see them making some moves toward the 70's, BUT, not at the expense of staying true
to what AM listeners would expect to hear from that type of station. The AM audience is largely, if not exclusively, over 50.

But if WDJO has few advertisers, it only shows that making money on any station targeting the over 50 crowd is an extreme uphill challenge. Hey...don't bash me here, I love that music. I'm programming a format similar on a station up at Indian Lake. But, we're a non-comm, we don't need demos to survive. Still, I've pushed the format into the late 60's & 70's with a touch of pop 80's, while retaining timeless hits from the earlier years. And, we're on FM. Makes a difference.

 

[nmoore6676]

I have to imagine that the move is to put on pressure. But if advertisers flee and they go belly up BMI never gets paid. Kind of like shooting your foot off to fix an ingrown toenail.

Usual procedure and I've worked places where it happened is to have the court place a "keeper" in the business, usually a deputy sheriff or marshal. When money comes in the keeper takes it until the judgment is settled. Usually the owners find the money when the dude in uniform has sat in their office for a while to make him disappear.

 

[jry]

I've been gone so long now I'm out of the loop-- But I can't imagine clients are very happy about being served.

Hate to see all of this--- that place should have been a successful small family business

As for any music changes, I've not listened to them in quite some time. I just tried to pull a monitor but can't find any. If they have moved the music closer to WGRR, I would say that is the wrong move-- They need to play a large library of popular and unique music for the demographic epicenter of the AM market cume--- If a song is played on FM, it should (for the most part) be stricken from the playlist.

Just one man's opinion

They must have deleted the BMI music from their playlist.

 

[Bizman]

Several on the list mentioned are either the owners or businesses of on air personalities.

 

[NDXUFan]

Yes, Jason, you would be correct.

I can see them making some moves toward the 70's, BUT, not at the expense of staying true
to what AM listeners would expect to hear from that type of station. The AM audience is largely, if not exclusively, over 50.

But if WDJO has few advertisers, it only shows that making money on any station targeting the over 50 crowd is an extreme uphill challenge. Hey...don't bash me here, I love that music. I'm programming a format similar on a station up at Indian Lake. But, we're a non-comm, we don't need demos to survive. Still, I've pushed the format into the late 60's & 70's with a touch of pop 80's, while retaining timeless hits from the earlier years. And, we're on FM. Makes a difference.

 

[NDXUFan]

Yes or they confiscate their equipment, sell it, and give the money to the plantiff.

I have to imagine that the move is to put on pressure. But if advertisers flee and they go belly up BMI never gets paid. Kind of like shooting your foot off to fix an ingrown toenail.

Usual procedure and I've worked places where it happened is to have the court place a "keeper" in the business, usually a deputy sheriff or marshal. When money comes in the keeper takes it until the judgment is settled. Usually the owners find the money when the dude in uniform has sat in their office for a while to make him disappear.

 

[jry]

Yes or they confiscate their equipment, sell it, and give the money to the plantiff.

I have to imagine that the move is to put on pressure. But if advertisers flee and they go belly up BMI never gets paid. Kind of like shooting your foot off to fix an ingrown toenail.

Usual procedure and I've worked places where it happened is to have the court place a "keeper" in the business, usually a deputy sheriff or marshal. When money comes in the keeper takes it until the judgment is settled. Usually the owners find the money when the dude in uniform has sat in their office for a while to make him disappear.

The backers on this deal must be going nuts. I wonder what Dusty thinks...

 

[NDXUFan]

The bunch running 'DJO is clueless.

Yes or they confiscate their equipment, sell it, and give the money to the plantiff.

I have to imagine that the move is to put on pressure. But if advertisers flee and they go belly up BMI never gets paid. Kind of like shooting your foot off to fix an ingrown toenail.

Usual procedure and I've worked places where it happened is to have the court place a "keeper" in the business, usually a deputy sheriff or marshal. When money comes in the keeper takes it until the judgment is settled. Usually the owners find the money when the dude in uniform has sat in their office for a while to make him disappear.

The backers on this deal must be going nuts. I wonder what Dusty thinks...

 

[microbob]

When will the money run out? They can't be making any.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

It has nothing to do with the age group they are going after rather they need to play music that can't be found anywhere else. If they start playing songs that can be heard on FM there is no reason to listen, period.