I was at a Bluegrass jam last Wednesday, and the leader was talking about taking up a collection to pay ASCAP fees for the coffee shop where the jam is held. I was amazed that a group of people could not assemble in a coffee shop and play acoustic traditional music without the shopowner having to pay these ASCAP guys 400 dollars per year. Is this standard procedure, and is anyone else aware of ASCAP threatening venues with either fees or fines?
Frankly, the entire thing sounds like a scam to me, and I wonder how you go about determining that these threats are on the level?