Sections: Band | Business | Career | Events | Label | Music Releases | Radio | Tech | Video | Web Events
Genres: Country/Folk | Dance/Electronica | Jazz/Blues | Latin | Rock | Urban | World
International: Asia | Canada | Europe

Congress Threatens Live Music, Fans And Music Industry Fight Back

MusicDish Network Sponsor

Congress is considering two bills that would hold bands, DJs, bartenders, promoters, venue owners, radio stations and others liable if a patron uses drugs at a nightclub or concert. Legal experts and business owners warn the legislation would devastate the music industry and could spell the end of live music, especially large music festivals like South by Southwest and Burning Man. Music fans, bar and nightclub owners, and music promoters are launching a national campaign to defeat the legislation.

"Members of Congress may be too old to go to concerts and dance their butts off, but millions of voters are not," said Bill Piper, Director of National Affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance. "If politicians don't reject this legislation, these voters may dance their way to the voting booth and vote these old fogies out."

The Ecstasy Awareness Act (H.R. 2962) would throw anyone in jail who "profits monetarily from a rave or similar electronic dance event knowing or having reason to know" some event-goers may use drugs at the event. Similarly, Section 305 of the CLEAN-UP Act (H.R. 834) makes it a federal crime - punishable by up to nine years in prison - to promote "any rave, dance, music, or other entertainment event, that takes place under circumstances where the promoter knows or reasonably ought to know that a controlled substance will be used or distributed."

Under the provisions of both bills, almost any music promoter, nightclub owner or arena or stadium owner could be fined and jailed, because a reasonable person knows that some people use marijuana and other drugs at musical events. Business owners could be prosecuted even if they are not involved in drugs – and even if they take steps to stop drug use on their property. Dozens of music promoters and bar owners, as well as national groups such as the ACLU, American Beverage Licensees (which represents thousands of bars and nightclubs), and the International Association of Assembly Managers (which represents arena and stadium managers), signed letters to Congress earlier this year warning that the CLEAN-UP Act "is a threat to free speech and musical expression, and will undoubtedly harm innocent business owners."

In response to both bills, the Drug Policy Alliance declared April 24th a "Day and Night of Outrage" over the legislation and launched a website, www.protectlivemusic.org, to coordinate the work of thousands of concerns music fans and business owners. Voters in dozens of cities, from Billings, Montana to New York City are expected to take action on April 24th, including circulating petitions to Congress, passing out flyers, protesting, and holding fundraisers to raise money for the campaign. The day and night of action kicks off a four-month national campaign to stop the legislation, that will culminate in a concert on the lawn of Congress in August. For a full list of tomorrow's events please see: http://www.protectlivemusic.org/outrage_gigs.htm.

The Alliance picked the term "outrage" to describe the day and night of action to correspond with their "Outrageous" music CD the organization will release this summer to raise money for the campaign to protect live music. The Alliance chose to kick off the four-month campaign in April because it's the one-year anniversary of legislation that Congress passed, known as the RAVE Act, making business owners liable for the drug offenses of their patrons. That legislation, passed last April, was used last May to shut down a political fundraiser in Billings, Montana and music industry professionals contend it has had a serious chilling effect on musical expression. The CLEAN-UP Act and Ecstasy Awareness Act would make it even easier for the government to punish business owners for the crimes of their customers.

"The government can't even keep drugs out of its own schools and prisons, yet it is seeking to punish business owners that can't stop their patrons from using drugs," said Bill Piper. "If these bills become law, innocent business owners could go to jail and music fans may be unable to see their favorite artist live. That's why business owners and music fans are organizing to protect live music."

back | top

Mi2N Music PR

MyMusicSuccess Teams Up With Top US Producer Mike Rizzo To Break Pop Crossover Artists Into The Billboard Charts

Rivmixx.com Announce Industry Bloggers: John Robb, Ty, Kutski, And The Music Consultants Join The Rivmixx Revolution

SPIDER ROCKETS To Join POP EVIL On Midwest Tour

Kluger: Debut Album & Some Raw Heartache

Last Chance, The New Single Of Robert Lauri

Dolly Trolly CD Release At The Bitter End

Professor Louie & The Crowmatix - New Release

Mi2N's Music PR distribution service guarantees online exposure for your press release. Choose from seven (7) different packages.

News Headlines

	Mi2N EDITOR'S PICKS
	» SABAM Vs Tiscali - The Case Is Being Referred To The European Court Of Justice Of Luxemburg » METAlliance Certifies Millennia HV-3R Mic Pre » Two Ton Anvil Signs With Dark Star Records » Film Industry Disappointed By Federal Court Ruling On Online Copyright Infringement » Media Institute Opposes RIAA Performance Tax » Ricardo B. Salinas Pliego Receives 'Medalla Mozart 2010' » David Knight Presents MTEC » Comedy At Gonzalez Y Gonzalez Returns On Wednesday, February 24th With Erik Rivera, Peaches Rodriguez, Andrew Kennedy And Many More... » The Midnight Kites Release Debut Album » The Official Jamie Lynn Noon App - A Moment To Break

Get your music news covered...
Have your press release written
by the pros at Mi2N

Articles

	MUSICDISH E-JOURNAL
	» The New Miles Davis Tribute Headphones By Monster Cable At NAMM » Composing Music For Movies - The New Way » Doing Business At MIDEM 2010 » Music Gets Back To Business » HMV X Tube - Music In Sessions » MusicDish*China 'Eye On China': Red Orchestra - Solo » Global Survey Reveals Music Trends Rocking Fans Across The World » MusicDish*China Sounds Live At MIDEM » Riding The Korean Wave In Asia » MusicDish*China Sounds At MIDEM 2010 » How Compulsory License For Internet Might STILL Help Music Industry Woes » Getting Too Into Indie Rock In 2010

Order an Mi2N Music PR package for an opportunity to submit a song for FREE to one of the hundreds of industry opportunities available through Music Xray