Here's an alarming news item from the Great State of Maine.
ASCAP and BMI are demanding that communities pay music licensing fees for public events - such as, if your town has concerts on the green, or for music on hold. Wonder if they're concerned about the high school marching band.
On the one hand, I understand the concept of ensuring that artists get compensated for their intellectual property. OTOH, isn't this going a bit too far? For example, a cash-strapped small town may be forced to stop outdoor band concerts on the green rather than pay the licensing fee.
Discuss.