They're suing our clubs for playing music, cher!
Ya'll, I just saw this news that had me shaking my head like I was listening to a brass band trying to play a slow funeral march at a second line pace. ASCAP, that big national music licensing group, they're out here filing federal lawsuits against eleven venues, and guess what? One of 'em is right here in our own French Quarter, the Garage Music Club. They're saying these places are playing copyrighted music without permission. Seriously? You walk into a club on Frenchmen Street, or even Bourbon if you must, and you *expect* to hear music. That's just what we do here, baby.
This ain't just some big city problem, this is a New Orleans problem. Our whole economy, our *soul*, is built on music. From the corner musicians in the Quarter to the big stages at Jazz Fest, the music is always playing. When you got a club like the Garage, which is known for its live bands and late-night grooves, getting hit with a lawsuit like this, it makes you wonder about the bigger picture for every small venue in town. Are they coming for the Maple Leaf next? Are they gonna try and shut down the street performers in Jackson Square? That's New Orleans, baby — we bury our dead above ground and keep the music below, but it feels like some folks wanna bury our music too.
* **The Big Deal:** ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, is suing clubs for playing music they say isn't properly licensed. * **Local Target:** The Garage Music Club in the French Quarter is one of the eleven venues nationwide being targeted. * **The "So What?" for NOLA:** This could put a squeeze on our beloved live music venues, from the small dives to the bigger spots, making it harder for them to keep the music playing without facing big legal bills. It's a real threat to the lifeblood of our city.
This ain't just about a club, cher. This is about our identity. Imagine a New Orleans without music pouring out of every doorway. That's a thought that makes my stomach turn faster than a bad oyster po'boy. We gotta protect our culture, our sound, our artists, and the places where they play.
That's New Orleans, baby — we bury our dead above ground and keep the music below.
My folks break down what this means for our clubs every morning — catch it live at mornings.live.