Slapchop did you ever realize how many top 10 and #1 songs Maddonna has written.If you look at her writing credits she is one of the most succesful song writers in history. So tell me how many time do you think she came up with the word THE in a song.

only in the fender lounge...
a question about a christian band covering a song about Jesus segues into the frank zappa estate, and now lands on madonna... i guess that's what happens when the government gets it's hands into business.

Dunno about the Springsteen case.

But the Performing Rights outfit in the UK has been getting heavier and heavier on public playing of recorded music. Bars, restaurants, etc that have music going on in the background have found themselves getting demands for performance fees in a much more aggressive way than in the past, much to their dismay.

I wonder if the Springsteen story relates to that?

It has also transpired that the same law applies to the playing of music radio, at least in Britain. (Don't know how that works in other countries.) Employers of all sizes who play the radio for the amusement of their staff at work have found themselves being advised to buy licenses, and very expensive ones at that. Previously, we'd all assumed that was covered by the fees the radio station pays to the Rights people - but it turns out it isn't.

I heard a Performing Rights fella interviewed on the subject. He was asked, jokingly, whether a taxi driver who played the radio whilst in the work place (his cab) would have to pay for a performance license. The Rights guy responded yes - and he was perfectly serious.

The rising temperature on all this is no doubt because of the falling revenues from CD sales. Publishers and Rights people are pulling out the legal paperwork and combing it for extra ways of demanding money.

Watch out!

Cheers - C

Huh?