By Alexandra Golder
Intern
An educational seminar held at Wrightsville Beach’s Bluewater Grill on Feb. 18 served to connect songwriters with local businesses that play their music and create an open forum for a discussion about music licensing.
“No one has even brought up music licensing to me before,” said Hunter Tiblier, owner of Ceviche’s Inspired Panamanian Restaurant.
Daniel Spears, vice president of Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), hosted the event along with the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association (NCRLA).
By law, restaurant owners must acquire licensing to play music in order to comply with each song’s copyright status. Within establishments, intellectual property cannot be used without permission from and payment to the owner of that property. Once a business decides to play any copyrighted music publicly, it needs permission from the copyright owners.
“I’m here today to humanize the process,” Spears said. “Education is our No. 1 priority.”
Alyssa Barkley, chief operating officer of the NCRLA, spoke of how the association protects and promotes businesses.
“There are some [laws] that business owners aren’t aware of,” she said.
When he and his wife Laura first opened the doors to Ceviche’s, Tiblier said he was unaware his business needed a license to play music.
“I’m here today to learn if we’re currently in compliance,” he said.
Mike Smith, client development representative of Carolina Farmin’, a locally owned Southern market, said many restaurant owners are not aware of the laws regarding music licensing.
“Most people don’t know about the laws until they get fined,” he said.
Smith attended the event to ensure his customers knew about these licensing regulations. Farmin’ currently serves Oceanic Restaurant, Roberts Grocery and Jerry Allen’s Sports Bar and Grill, amongst other local businesses.
“You are helping fuel the creative process,” Spears said to those in attendance. Spears explained BMI operates on a nonprofit basis to ensure that affiliated songwriters, composers and publishers receive payment for the use of their intellectual property.
“We take action on behalf of the writers,” he said.
Present with Spears was BMI singer-songwriter and record producer Frank Myers.
“As a songwriter, BMI is my lifeline,” Myers said. In these days when people think music should be free, he said, BMI is working on behalf of songwriters to ensure they receive proper payment for their work.
“It’s a common misconception that business owners don’t believe where BMI’s money is going,” said Trish Anderson, account executive of Mood Media, a music provider for businesses. Anderson credits Redix as Mood Media’s oldest customer in Wrightsville Beach.
Associations such as Mood Media and the NCRLA serve as intermediaries between businesses and music rights agencies.
“A benefit of being a part of the NCRLA,” Tiblier said, “is receiving legal advice and education.”
Spears emphasized the best way BMI can market who they are is by having a songwriter present to introduce for whom the company is a middleman. This shows business owners directly where their payments are going.
“Today is all about learning how we can be a stronger community,” Barkley said.
