Okay...it's not dead YET, but Muzak DID file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection (bloomberg.com) and that's the cleverest headline I (and fifteen million other people) could immediately come up with.
Meanwhile, you HAVE sold your Sirius XM stock...right? Right? Sources believe THEIR bankruptcy announcement is imminent (washingtonpost.com). New catchphrase: Stern may rule, but he is not immune to the American economy!
Ah Muzak, the .com I worked for shared offices with their music video division. All of the rooms had these Muzak knobs (I think they had 1-9 stations) you could use to turn on different stations. No one ever used them... not even on the Muzak side of things.
Originally posted by LiseAh Muzak, the .com I worked for shared offices with their music video division. All of the rooms had these Muzak knobs (I think they had 1-9 stations) you could use to turn on different stations. No one ever used them... not even on the Muzak side of things.
They made tapes (might have been DVDs eventually) of music videos that could be played at establishments to evoke a certain feel. For example I believe we used them at Gameworks, so we had 2-4 tapes for normal use that were a mix of current mostly adult contempory and pop rock videos and then we had a Retro tape of all Classic Rock videos for the Rat Race Recess promo time.
When I first started at the stations here, our FM station was "Beautiful Music (just for the two of us)" automation, with reels supplied by Bonneville. We tried to sell local businesses on using our station as background rather than Muzak, since we were free and all.
Of course when a restaurant WAS using us as background would inadvertently air an ad for a different restaurant....
As of 2/28/05: 101 pounds since December 7, 2004 OFFICIAL THREE-MONTH COUNT: 112 pounds on March 9, 2005 OFFICIAL SIX-MONTH COUNT: 142 pounds on June 8, 2005 OFFICIAL ONE YEAR COUNT: 187 pounds on December 7, 2005 As of 2/27/06: 202 pounds "I've lost a heavyweight" As of 7/31/06: 224 pounds As of 12/7/08 (four years out): Still 210 pounds down! Now announcing for NBWA Championship Wrestling! *2008 NBWA Personality of the Year* www.IlliniHQ.com home of DWS Sportsnight PODCASTS, the E-Files and downstate radio home of thecubsfan!
Originally posted by Eddie FamousWhen I first started at the stations here, our FM station was "Beautiful Music (just for the two of us)" automation, with reels supplied by Bonneville. We tried to sell local businesses on using our station as background rather than Muzak, since we were free and all.
Of course when a restaurant WAS using us as background would inadvertently air an ad for a different restaurant....
Could a business legally use you like that without paying copyright?
There are still plenty of stations that are piped in to offices, I'm sure that the Recording Industry would go after it now if they thought about it.
(edited by Eddie Famous on 11.2.09 1810) As of 2/28/05: 101 pounds since December 7, 2004 OFFICIAL THREE-MONTH COUNT: 112 pounds on March 9, 2005 OFFICIAL SIX-MONTH COUNT: 142 pounds on June 8, 2005 OFFICIAL ONE YEAR COUNT: 187 pounds on December 7, 2005 As of 2/27/06: 202 pounds "I've lost a heavyweight" As of 7/31/06: 224 pounds As of 12/7/08 (four years out): Still 210 pounds down! Now announcing for NBWA Championship Wrestling! *2008 NBWA Personality of the Year* www.IlliniHQ.com home of DWS Sportsnight PODCASTS, the E-Files and downstate radio home of thecubsfan!
Originally posted by Eddie FamousWhen I first started at the stations here, our FM station was "Beautiful Music (just for the two of us)" automation, with reels supplied by Bonneville. We tried to sell local businesses on using our station as background rather than Muzak, since we were free and all.
Of course when a restaurant WAS using us as background would inadvertently air an ad for a different restaurant....
Could a business legally use you like that without paying copyright?
If they're just running the audio of a radio station I don't know why this would be an issue. If they were using the third leg/sideband of their FM to send out a separate, music only feed for businesses and the recording industry wasn't getting their cut...that would be different.
Permission for radio and television transmissions in your business is not needed if the performance is by means of public communication of TV or radio transmissions by eating, drinking, retail or certain other establishments of a certain size which use a limited number of speakers or TVs, and if the reception is not further transmitted (for example, from one room to another) from the place in which it is received, and there is no admission charge.
Believe it or not, BMI's website is even more vague on the subject, but I'd imagine they have the same or similar policies as ASCAP.
I also seem to recall hearing about a lawsuit in which someone sued a commercial business for playing a radio station as background music. I can't find any reference to any suit of that nature, so I'm not certain if it is true.
We all have ways of coping. I use sex and awesomeness.
If you're playing a radio and the only audio is from its native speakers, it's no problem.
If you're playing a radio over your establishment's in-house loudspeaker system (even if the only speaker source from said radio is the system), it's a an opportunity for ASCAP/BMI's lawyers to sue you for tens of thousands of dollars.
Originally posted by Mr Heel IIIf you're playing a radio over your establishment's in-house loudspeaker system (even if the only speaker source from said radio is the system), it's a an opportunity for ASCAP/BMI's lawyers to sue you for tens of thousands of dollars.
I'd be very interested to know if ASCAP or BMI have ever sued a private business for royalties because they played a radio station in their business. One would think that such a lawsuit would have some publicity or historical significance, but I can't seem to find anything. The only thing I can find is this:
I have researched this, and recall that you need to have a license if you are using something other than a radio playing back with built in speakers. Using a component stereo sytem with more than 2 speakers would (such as multiple in ceiling speakers) would probably require a license.
Staff may listen to a radio at a volume where it cannot be heard by members of the public, or was clearly not being played for their benefit (The dish-washer can have a radio on, and even if you can barely hear it at the counter, its OK).
I know, that about once a year, the museum gets a letter telling us that if we are playing a radio loud enough for the public to hear, that we will be charged. It was a big enough deal that we actually had our lawyer send a response explaining that we were within compliance.
There's a whole nother mess if we have performers who are performing songs that are still withing copyright as well...
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Stereogum seems to think so. (stereogum) More Radiohead is ALWAYS a good thing. Edit: Also, if the title (Wall of Ice) is REALLY a bonafide XKCD reference, that's excellent. Best comic since Calvin and Hobbes.