The W
June 7, 2009 - birthdaybritney.jpg
Views: 178994795
Main | FAQ | Search: Y! / G | Calendar | Color chart | Log in for more!
28.3.24 0636
The W - Music - The Day The Muzak Died
This thread has 7 referrals leading to it
Register and log in to post!
Thread rated: 6.67
Pages: 1
(1845 newer) Next thread | Previous thread
User
Post (15 total)
CRZ
Big Brother
Administrator








Since: 9.12.01
From: ミネアポリス

Since last post: 8 days
Last activity: 3 days
ICQ:  
#1 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.86
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!







Promote this thread!
Lise
Mrs. Guru








Since: 11.12.01

Since last post: 3090 days
Last activity: 2863 days
#2 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.64
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.
CRZ
Big Brother
Administrator








Since: 9.12.01
From: ミネアポリス

Since last post: 8 days
Last activity: 3 days
ICQ:  
#3 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.86
    Originally posted by Lise
    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.
Muzak had VIDEOS? Do tell!



Lise
Mrs. Guru








Since: 11.12.01

Since last post: 3090 days
Last activity: 2863 days
#4 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.64
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.
Eddie Famous
Andouille








Since: 11.12.01
From: Catlin IL

Since last post: 2620 days
Last activity: 2161 days
#5 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.89

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!
DrDirt
Banger








Since: 8.10.03
From: flyover country

Since last post: 2346 days
Last activity: 2247 days
#6 Posted on | Instant Rating: 7.44
    Originally posted by Eddie Famous
    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....


Could a business legally use you like that without paying copyright?



Perception is reality
Eddie Famous
Andouille








Since: 11.12.01
From: Catlin IL

Since last post: 2620 days
Last activity: 2161 days
#7 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.89

At the time (the 80's) nobody cared about that.

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!
PeterStork
Sujuk








Since: 25.1.02
From: Chicagoland with Hoosiers, or "The Region"

Since last post: 3290 days
Last activity: 3053 days
#8 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.71
    Originally posted by DrDirt
      Originally posted by Eddie Famous
      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....


    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.



exit 670 dot com | digital route 66
Leroy
Boudin blanc








Since: 7.2.02

Since last post: 12 days
Last activity: 6 days
#9 Posted on | Instant Rating: 6.45
    Originally posted by PeterStork
    If they're just running the audio of a radio station I don't know why this would be an issue.


From ASCAP's website:


    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.
Mr Heel II
Lap cheong








Since: 25.2.02

Since last post: 1891 days
Last activity: 1627 days
#10 Posted on | Instant Rating: 3.16
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.

(edited by Mr Heel II on 12.2.09 0809)
Leroy
Boudin blanc








Since: 7.2.02

Since last post: 12 days
Last activity: 6 days
#11 Posted on | Instant Rating: 6.45
    Originally posted by Mr Heel II
    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.

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:

Music licensing group's targets include local restaurants

That lawsuit had to do with playing music that was purchased, not a radio station.

Incidentally, the lawsuit to which I was referring in my previous post did actually happen, just not in the United States. It was in England.




We all have ways of coping. I use sex and awesomeness.
Guru Zim
SQL Dejection
Administrator








Since: 9.12.01
From: Bay City, OR

Since last post: 8 days
Last activity: 15 hours
ICQ:  
#12 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.53
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).

Yes, it's pretty rediculous.




Sign up for Folding@Home and join our team. PM me for details.

Ignorance is bliss for you, hell for me.
Mr Heel II
Lap cheong








Since: 25.2.02

Since last post: 1891 days
Last activity: 1627 days
#13 Posted on | Instant Rating: 3.16
There have indeed been historical cases, but I can't find anything about them either.

I remember a Dairy Queen, specifically.
Lise
Mrs. Guru








Since: 11.12.01

Since last post: 3090 days
Last activity: 2863 days
#14 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.63
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...
Mr. Boffo
Scrapple








Since: 24.3.02
From: Oshkosh, WI

Since last post: 3895 days
Last activity: 3856 days
#15 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.24
Remind me to never tell any ASCAP lawyers about where I work.
Thread rated: 6.67
Pages: 1
Thread ahead: Amazon.com MP3 Download Top 100 Bestsellers -- February 15, 2009
Next thread: iTunes Top Downloads -- February 15, 2009
Previous thread: Amazon's Friday 5 and daily deals - week of 2/6
(1845 newer) Next thread | Previous thread
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.
- Super Shane Spear, New Radiohead EP...This Monday??!?!?! (2009)
The W - Music - The Day The Muzak DiedRegister and log in to post!

The W™ message board

ZimBoard
©2001-2024 Brothers Zim

This old hunk of junk rendered your page in 0.184 seconds.