Special Year-End Edition, Merry Shutdown…? by Jim Trezise

December 21, 2018 Special Year-End Edition Merry Shutdown…? If you are not already a member of WineAmerica, join now! Background Music (Andy Williams): “It’s the most won-der-ful time of the year…” Twas the week before Christmas And all through the House The Members were voting And continuing to grouse Ah yes, after the ongoing border wall kerfluffle and the on-and-off … Read more

Transparency in Music Licensing and Ownership Act Introduced in Congress

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WASHINGTON, DC, (July 20, 2017)— WineAmerica, the national organization of American wineries, and its partner the MIC Coalition (Music, Innovators, Consumers) enthusiastically support the bipartisan legislation introduced today by Representatives Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Suzan DelBene (D-WA) to establish a searchable, digital database of historical and current copyright ownership and licensing … Read more

Letter to the Department of Justice on Music Licensing

By Tara Good 7.25.2016 Last Friday, the MIC Coalition, which includes WineAmerica, along with bars, restaurants, and streaming services, sent a letter supporting DOJ’s decision to keep in place the longstanding consent decrees which have governed music licensing by ASCAP and BMI for decades. View Letter to the Department of Justice Additionally, MIC applauded DOJ’s … Read more

Department of Justice Strikes Major Blow to ASCAP and BMI

7.6.2016 by Tara Good What does it mean for wineries? WineAmerica is pleased to learn that the Department of Justice has denied performance licensing organizations (PROs) changes to the consent decree. Yesterday, the Department of Justice (DoJ) announced that, after two years of reviews, they would not alter the existing consent decree regulating Broadcast Music, … Read more

32% Of Wineries Surveyed Cancelled Live Music

Summary of Findings 3.7.2016 By Tara Good In November 2015 WineAmerica conducted a national survey of wineries regarding music usage and licensing. The response was overwhelming. The business practices of performance rights organizations (PRO), including BMI, SESAC and ASCAP, have had a severely damaging effect on wineries abilities to host live music. Songwriters get paid … Read more