The way things are now a days its not easy for club owners and performers. As a BMI member I might be getting a check in the mail if the song starts to break out and I think songwriters should be paid for their work.
That being said there should be some common sense to clubs being made to pay so much. When I have been in Italy you have to after your gig write down each song you sang that night. So I had an idea ...lets see what would happen if I put in a friend who lives in Italy and is a songwriter his songs. And as far as we know he never got a dine.
Songwriters should be paid for their work but BMI or ASCAP should not put clubs out of the live music business.
Still Pickin'
B.H.