District 3

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  • 1.  Performing Rights Organizations (PRO)

    Posted 03-04-2025 10:26 AM

    Hi D3!

    I am new to music licensing and just received yet another notice from a PRO (BMI, SESAC, ASCAP, and AllTrack), that is strongly "encouraging" me to pay for an annual blanket license.  Do you pay for all PROs or just one? We pay for separate licensing when running movies in the park. We use local bands, play spotify for background music and some of our entertainment groups bring their own music. I have been told that paying all three (now potentially  4) licensing companies are past practice to ensure we are in compliance.  Is this a standard practice among all municipalities? 



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    Deborah Hernandez
    Recreation Manager
    City of Martinez Recreation
    Martinez CA
    (925) 387-9082
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  • 2.  RE: Performing Rights Organizations (PRO)

    Posted 03-04-2025 10:40 AM

    Hi Deb!

     

    Currently, we pay BMI, SESAC, and ASCAP, so we are covered in the full spectrum. To my knowledge, we haven't done AllTrack. From our understanding, it's because they represent different publishers and artists, so all three are needed.

     

    If you only pay 1, I believe you are also at risk of being audited for a played list. I haven't heard of this being performed at the municipal level, but I have heard about it for venues and restaurants.

     

    Happy to be corrected and educated further if anyone else on the thread has other experience! I'd also rather not pay for 3 or 4 licenses, but I think that's what we have to do right now.

     

    Donald Scully

    Recreation Supervisor, Parks & Recreation

    (925) 888-7036

    dscully@moraga.ca.us

    2100 Donald Drive

    Moraga, CA 94556

    www.moragarec.com | www.moraga.ca.us

     

    Celebrating 50 Years!

     




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  • 3.  RE: Performing Rights Organizations (PRO)

    Posted 03-04-2025 11:38 AM
    Hi All,

    Alltrack and GMR really disrupted the whole PRO's thing...  

    ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC were the main three for many, many, many, years. 

    GMR (founded by Irving Azoff) was founded a little over 10 years ago.  The City of Dublin currently pays GMR plus the original three at the recommendation of legal.

    Alltrack was founded a few years after GMR.  Dublin was approached by Alltrack few years ago but chose to opt-out based on the small repertorie.  That may end up changing if they continue to grow and expand.  

    Regards,

    Shaun Chilkotowsky

    Parks & Community Services Manager

    City of Dublin

    100 Civic Plaza, Dublin, CA  94568

    (925) 556-4565  |  (925) 833-6651 FAX

    shaun.chilkotowsky@dublin.ca.gov | www.dublin.ca.gov 

    Mission Statement: The City of Dublin promotes and supports a high quality of life, ensures a safe, secure, and sustainable environment, fosters new opportunities, and champions a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion.


     




    Original Message


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