American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers claims Medford bar performed music without obtaining a license

The Rocky Tonk Saloon in Medford is among more than a dozen other establishments across the country that face copyright infringement lawsuits from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers for allegedly “consistently performing musical works without permission,” according to ASCAP. 

The music rights group claims that Rocky Tonk was repeatedly warned about the illegality of playing the music of ASCAP-represented artists without a license. 

Officials with the downtown Medford bar did not respond to multiple requests for comment from the Rogue Valley Times. 

“We repeatedly offered the opportunity to obtain an ASCAP license for a low and affordable price, and the ability to perform any and all works in our repertory,” Jackson Wagener, senior vice president of business and legal affairs with ASCAP, said in a telephone interview. “Over a number of years, we reached out to Rocky Tonk, and when it became clear (they wouldn’t cooperate), we took litigation on our members’ behalf.” 

“With respect to this particular action, for ASCAP, litigation is the last resort. We understand music licensing can be confusing,” Wagener added. 

According to ASCAP, members of the group repeatedly reached out to the Medford bar in hopes of educating employees about playing unlicensed music and getting the bar to pay for a license to play the songs, but with no success, according to Wagener. 

An ASCAP license typically costs less than $2 per day, or roughly around $600 per year, he said.

“They have not agreed to take a license after many attempts to reach out,” Wagener said. “Our first hope, even when it gets to the extraordinary point in litigation, is to start a conversation with owners to come to the table and ensure songwriters get paid.” 

The other 14 establishments across the country that also are being sued include, in part, Bud’s Rockin’ Country Bar & Grill in Evansville, Ind.; Sarajevo Nightclub in Seattle; and Vinyl Music Hall in Pensacola, Fla. 

The music rights group is a membership association that operates on a not-for-profit basis and represents more than one million songwriters, composers and music publishers, according to a news release.

ASCAP licenses a repertory of more than 20 million musical works.

According to ASCAP, close to 90% of the license fees the group collects goes directly to the songwriters, composers and publishers. 

“We take the fees we collect and distribute that to songwriters and music creators,” Wagener said. “It’s how they pay rent, put food on the table and put their kids through school.” 

To learn more about ASCAP, visit ascap.com. 

Reach reporter James Sloan at jsloan@rv-times.com.