Truman..

first...

If you're going to accuse me of having a more sympathetic view of the performers situation...

Well...

You're absolutely right !

Performing is what I know...it's the viewpoint that I understand best..so...Guilty as charged !

But, Truman...look closely at the facts !

The fact is that the very people that might actually NEED a little money garnered from these fees do not get it !

It goes to the already rich "stars"..not to the small time writer (like you or me)
At the same time, it creates a burden on the venue, which gives them one more excuse to say "phooey on live music, it's not worth the headaches or the expense"..

What that does is, it closes off an avenue for the display of music by unknowns, both performers AND writers (like you and me)

I was the one that brought the word greed into this discourse..

I'm sorry I did...it was the wrong word.

Short-sightedness more describes the attitude.

The fledgling writer says "Yeah...they should pay for using my song"
Unfortunately, the fledgling writer will see NONE of that money, and he or she has just provided the club owner one more financial reason to shut off the exposure to the fledgling writers songs, and eliminated a place for the fledgling writers musician friend to work on a Saturday night.

All for the promise of a few pennies which will never arrive.

Sorry....

I still call that a bad deal !

Bob