Bars and Nightclubs Get Busted By ASCAP

ASCAP Sues 29 Establishments

New York, NY, March 24, 2008: The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) today announced that it has filed 29 separate infringement actions against nightclubs, bars and restaurants in 22 states and the District of Columbia.

In each of the cases filed today, the business establishment has publicly performed the copyrighted musical works of ASCAP's songwriter, composer and music publisher members without obtaining a license from ASCAP to do so. ASCAP reached out to the owners of each of the establishments repeatedly over a significant period of time before taking legal action. In every instance, the establishment refused to obtain a license, but continued to perform ASCAP members' music without permission, resulting in the filing of the infringement actions.

ASCAP protects the rights of its members by licensing and distributing royalties for the non-dramatic public performances of their copyrighted works. Those licensed by ASCAP include any establishment or business that wants to perform copyrighted music publicly.

"By filing these 29 actions at the same time, ASCAP is aiming to heighten awareness among music users and the public that it is a Federal offense to perform copyrighted music without permission," said Vincent Candilora, ASCAP Senior Vice President of Licensing. "ASCAP's priority is to serve as a voice and advocate for its more than 315,000 members who are essentially the smallest of small business owners. ASCAP not only has a right to collect license fees from the users of music, but it also has a responsibility to its members to ensure they are adequately compensated for their hard work."

Any business using copyrighted music has the opportunity to obtain permission to do so lawfully, through acceptance of a license covering the use of the more than 8.5 million copyrighted songs and compositions in the ASCAP repertory. Nearly 90% of the license fees ASCAP collects are paid as royalties directly to songwriters, composers and music publishers. The balance covers ASCAP's operating costs, which are the lowest of any performing rights organization in the world.

"Using music is a vital part of the total service that businesses offer, both in attracting customers and driving more revenue," continued Candilora. "By accepting an ASCAP license, business owners can legally use music in ASCAP's popular and ever-increasing repertory."

Frequently Asked Questions about licensing can be found on ASCAP's website here.

The establishments listed below have performed publicly the copyrighted musical works of ASCAP's songwriter, composer and music publisher members without receiving their permission to do so, resulting in lost income for these music creators.

Establishment, City, State
Brookside Sports Bar & Grille, Surprise, AZ
Bar 330, Brea, CA
Paulie's Upper Deck, Redondo Beach, CA
Frankie's Too!, Falcon, CO
The Guards / Griffin Room, Washington, DC
Matilda's Pub & Barbie, Newark, DE
Ultra Lounge, West Palm Beach, FL
Best Western - Sea Breeze Lounge, Fernandina Beach, FL
Wrigleyville North, Chicago, IL
Ice Lounge, Indianapolis, IN
Tin Alley Grill, Framingham, MA
The Quarter Bistro & Tavern, Ann Arbor, MI
Scott's 1029 Bar, Minneapolis, MN
Parrot's Sports Bar, St. Peters, MO
Black Tie Nightlife, Raleigh, NC
Dexter's, Riverdale, NJ
One, New York, NY
Cannon's Black Thorn Inn, Rockville Centre, NY
Fireside Inn, Port Crane, NY
Club Majestic, Tulsa, OK
Emerson's Pub, York, PA
Charleston Beer Works, Charleston, SC
Chattanooga Food & Drink, Chattanooga, TN
Drillers, Houston, TX
Pat's Pub, The Colony, TX
Vette's Sports Grill, Odessa, TX
Five 01 City Grill, Virginia Beach, VA
The Flame, Spokane, WA
Long Wong's, Milwaukee, WI

About ASCAP
Established in 1914, ASCAP is the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights Organization representing the world's largest repertory totaling over 8.5 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more than 315,000 songwriter, composer and music publisher members. ASCAP has representation arrangements with over 90 music rights organizations such that the ASCAP repertory is represented in nearly every country around the world. ASCAP protects the rights of its members and foreign affiliates by licensing the public performances of their copyrighted works and distributing royalties based upon surveyed performances. ASCAP is the only American Performing Rights Organization owned and governed by its writer and publisher members.

Source [ASCAP] via [Billboard]

Google Street View at it's best ...

Google cams seemed to have caught this bit of cash exchange happening on this busy Chicago street.

Wonder what this is all about?? Check it out here:
Busted on Google Street View

Dude in the car has his license plate clearly visible if you move around. Tons of people all standing around. This street is very notorious for drug infractions.

Source [Googlesightseeing]

Popular Circuit-Party DJ Gets Busted On Drug Charges

Popular DJ faces meth charges

Rob Harris accused of conspiring to distribute drugs

Robert Harris, a popular local DJ, was arrested last month and faces charges of conspiring to possess and distribute 50 grams of crystal meth, according to police sources.

An Oct. 16 affidavit filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia spells out the charges against Robert H. Harris of T Street, N.W., though an exact address wasn’t given. Harris spins at Apex and Cobalt and was voted “favorite DJ” by Blade readers for three consecutive years from 2003 to 2005.

A police source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed to the Blade that the man named in the affidavit is the local DJ. Attempts to contact Harris were unsuccessful. Harris’ public defender, Geremy Kamens, declined to comment.

A motion to extend filing the indictment against Harris was signed by both his attorney and U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg. It gives the court until Jan. 11 to indict Harris, which extends the 30-day limit from the time a defendant is arrested until formal charges are filed. Harris was arrested on Oct. 16, court papers said.

The motion said concerned parties are exploring a pre-indictment plea as the reason the delay was requested. Officials in the U.S. District Court office confirmed that the motion to extend the period for indictment was approved.

A five-page affidavit against Harris was prepared by Brian Miers, a special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration. It indicates Harris was cooperative with federal investigators upon his arrest. Among Miers’ findings as reported in the affidavit:

Around Oct. 12, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration San Diego Field Division arrested Paul Latiff at the San Diego International Airport and seized about seven ounces of a meth mixture from him.

Latiff told the agents he frequently went to San Diego to purchase drugs for himself and others.

Latiff told DEA agents he had sent a package to Robert Harris of Washington, D.C., and provided them with a New York Avenue address and a tracking number.
Agents intercepted the package the same day from Federal Express at Dulles International Airport in Virginia. The name and address were as Latiff had indicated to agents.

Law enforcement K-9s trained to detect illegal narcotics indicated the presence of drugs in the package. It was opened the next day and found to contain a meth mix weighing about 3 ounces (or 84 grams).

On Oct. 15, agents delivered the package to Harris while undercover to the New York Avenue address, which houses the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Harris was arrested upon taking possession of the package.

Harris told agents he’d known Latiff for about eight years and had bought illegal drugs from him before on at least six occasions.

Harris consented to having agents search his T Street, N.W. residence where they found and seized additional drugs and drug paraphernalia.

Miers said he suspects Harris intended to distribute the meth.

DJ Rob Harris has been featured at many popular D.C. area events, including Pride and Cherry.

Joey-O, a DJ and manager at Apex, said he was unaware of Harris facing drug charges and that, as far as he knew, Harris was still on the DJ roster at the club.

Dave Perruzza, manager of Cobalt, referred the Blade to Jason Royce, who oversees the DJs there but Royce couldn’t be reached for comment.

The Blade profiled Harris in 2002 after his first “Best of Gay D.C.” award. Harris claimed to be 30 at the time and a Chicago native. He told the Blade he’d been in the U.S. Navy where he became an electronics technician, was stationed for two years in the Persian Gulf and spent two years in San Diego before coming to Washington where he spent five years working as an audio-visual director at the White House under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

He started mixing tapes and CDs for friends but eventually mastered the craft enough to go professional. He once worked as a DJ for a national dinner for Human Rights Campaign and has also spun at Rehoboth Beach, the Cherry benefit circuit party, Capital Pride and several local clubs.

Source [Washington Blade]