Update: I looked on the ASCAP web site and see there has been legislation passed to include playing CDs as requiring a music license. ASCAP claims that their license gives you automatic permission to perform any music listed with them without having to contact the artist or distributor. So in essence, if a band is playing "Born to Run" and Springsteen happens to be in your place and you don't have a music license, he could sue you. You have a better chance of being struck by lightning while turning in your winning lottery ticket. ASCAP sets the license fees as they see fit (make them up based on how much they think they can get out of you) claiming there's too many diverse situations for them to set standard fees. They will "negotiate" with you. I still say extortion, and I won't pay them.
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