Karaoke Forums

Does anyone know enough about BMI to see if it's legal to do Karaoke at a camp site under a pavilion? The owners of the camp site received a letter from BMI saying they have to purchase a license to perform karaoke in a pavilion! Only two speakers were being used and it's under 2000 sq ft. Or does it mean their whole camp site?

Technically, ANY public performance requires that ASCAP, SESAC, BMI, etc be looped in. If they received a letter, I would not ignore it. Occasionally the alphabet soups folks come down pretty hard for not paying the appropriate fees.

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-Chris

Yup. And assuming its a true public performance, this goes for ANY music they play not just karaoke. If they have a DJ/Radio/Camper with iTunes then they also have to pay the man.

Most importantly, this is THEIR responsibility. Not yours.

What camp site? Like a KOA or a private camp ground?

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Yes. Its similar to a koa Rev campground.

Than yes I can see where they may be targeted. If it was just a private drive to the forest type site (no commercial type setting - making money from campers who pay to camp there which includes any amenities offered - which karaoke or any music would fall under), wouldn't be so much an issue. But just so you/they know, it's not only BMI they need to pay to be in full compliance, ASCAP & SESAC are also needed or they may receive more letters in the future from them.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

This link will tell you how much BMI will charge: http://www.bmi.com/forms/licensing/gl/36rv.pdf
I went through it a few years ago at an RV park I did Karaoke at.
It's around $700 min. to be legal for the park to have any music for any reason.