I tagged along to one of my son's jazz gigs on Saturday... they played at a vineyard that offers live music and wine-tasting. The venue is very small, low key and rural.

At break the owner asked the band not to play anything but original songs because ASCAP and BMI reps have visited them in the past and tried to get money from them.

I'm curious to hear everybody's thoughts on this. I know there are many opinions about the topic and also about the implications of leaning hard on the very small venues that already aren't making any money. The cover charge was $5, and attendance was insufficient to take in what they paid the band.


on a different note: true to my theory about live music demographics, EVERYONE at this gig was a baby boomer.