[Callers] Re: Terms for modern electronic/beat-heavy music

For folks organizing or calling contra dances using pre-recorded or DJed music be aware that it is wise to make sure you - or the DJ or the venue - has licensing from ASCAP/BMI, otherwise there is a good chance their lawyers will track you down and demand money for licensing. It’s available inexpensively through CallerLab: http://www.callerlab.org/Home/fbclid ASCAP/BMI licensing is a racket in that the artists see little or none of the money paid in licensing fees but it can be daunting to get letters from them as they do have the right to collect. Contra dance performers who use/remix recorded music for dances can generally get inexpensive annual licensing based on the number of gigs per month or year and what they are getting paid. I know that Lisa Greenleaf has such licensing for her "Alternative Music" contra dances where she plays music from a variety of artists with calls pre-recorded over the music. ASCAP/BMI has occasionally tried to get licensing fees for live music contra dances but have failed when the organizers challenged them to prove which tunes are actually under licensing... -- Will Loving 2419 S York St Apt 5 Denver CO 80210-5319 +1 413 253-7223 (GMT –7, Mountain Time) +1 413-221-8626 (iPhone) [he/him]