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Bruce Springsteen 'sues' Irish bar over royalties

But music group doesn't know its ASCAP from its elbow, used Boss' name on lawsuit without his OK

By
PATRICK COOPER,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Thursday, February 4, 2010, 3:53 PM
Updated Saturday, February 20, 2010, 10:23 PM

 

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Connolly's Irish Bar in Midtown
Connolly's Irish Bar in Midtown

When word got out this morning that Bruce Springsteen, the richest male musician in the country, was suing Connolly's Irish Bar in Midtown Manhattan for copyright infringement, it looked like The Boss had gone bad.

Apparently, the bar featured  a band on Aug. 9, 2008, that performed three of Springsteen's hits — and charged customers a cover fee. Of course, bars and other venues that host live performances (and make money from them) are supposed to pay an annual licensing fee to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, which in turn, doles out royalties to the Springsteens of the world.

The unnamed band played three songs  "Growin' Up," "Because the Night" and "You're No Good," which was written by Clinton Ballard Jr., a co-plaintiff in the case with Springsteen.

"It's not about him as a recording artist," said Vincent Candilora, ASCAP senior vice president for licensing. "In this instance, he's simply a songwriter with rights."

Connolly's could face a $30,000 fine for refusing to pay a $2,700 licensing fee, Candilora said.

He said the suit sought to make a level playing field for all bars, including those who paid royalties.

"We had been after them [Connolly's] for complying for over two years, so it's not so much about who or where," Candilora told  The Daily News. "Why should those places that are complying with the law be at a competitive disadvantage?" he asked.

But it turns out that Candilora and ASCAP should have asked Springsteen.

When the lawsuit hit the fan, The Boss' suits quickly cleared things up. In a statement, they said: "In regards to the ASCAP lawsuit against Connolly's Pub and Restaurant, ASCAP was solely responsible for naming Bruce Springsteen as a plaintiff in the lawsuit. Bruce Springsteen had no knowledge of this lawsuit, was not asked if he would participate as a named plaintiff, and would not have agreed to do so if he had been asked. Upon learning of this lawsuit this morning, Bruce Springsteen's representatives demanded the immediate removal of his name from the lawsuit."

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12 Comments

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Posted by GuinnessGrrl on Mar 12, 2010, 04:39 PM EST
It never ceases to amaze me how many people post comments without actually reading the entire story!
Report abuse
Posted by pat52rk on Feb 12, 2010, 02:14 PM EST
like bruce is not rich enough ?
Report abuse
Posted by JosephOCasey on Feb 06, 2010, 10:30 AM EST
Nothing like a misleading headline. Bruce Springsteen had no knowledge of the suit and demanded his name be removed, as your story acknowledged, but you chose to smear him with your inaccurate headline. What is wrong with you people at Irish Central? Does accuracy not matter to you clowns? I am not sure who writes the headlines, but whomever it is should be ashamed.
Report abuse
Posted by mcginleynj on Feb 05, 2010, 08:59 PM EST
I did hear on the radio that Bruce Springsteen did not know anything about the lawsuit. I would be very surprised if he would be a part of such a suit.
Report abuse
Posted by McNally on Feb 05, 2010, 03:26 PM EST
Bruce Springsteen did not know of the lawsuit and asked that his name be removed from it. Let's check the ALL of the facts next time.
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Posted by sdmcguirk on Feb 05, 2010, 12:44 PM EST
Why should the bar get sued, it should be the band. The bar pays the band and I'm sure they don't pick the songs that are performed. It's not like they recorded it and sold cds. Bruce should be happy somebody's singing his songs.
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Posted by irishwxman on Feb 05, 2010, 12:29 PM EST
The Boss has gone bad? Hell I could've told you that.
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Posted by kickstar on Feb 05, 2010, 11:20 AM EST
Where in under God does Religion come into this story??, This is simply about a pub like Connolly's putting their hand in someones pocket and stealing from them which is what you do when you benefit from someone else's music without their permission to that benefit.
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Posted by Derrylass627 on Feb 05, 2010, 10:38 AM EST
Why shouldn't musicians/song writers get their due. Their talent made the song. Would you want everyone glomming off of your talent? Also, Springsteen is a Catholic - went to Catholic school and anyway, even if he was a Jew, who cares? His law suit will be of benefit to all musicians/songwriters.
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Posted by shidoobe on Feb 05, 2010, 10:13 AM EST
I am going to stand on a street corner and sing "Badlands" with my hand out. I need money to pay for my health care and the Boss and Obama are not helping much these days. LOL! Talk about greedy musicians, BTW that is why many people download from PIRATEBAY because the greedy Goniffs from the music business. Bruce, get a life!
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Posted by nytreader on Feb 05, 2010, 09:06 AM EST
First off, Springsteen was raised a catholic,IrishJets47. Second, they charge a cover so why shouldn't he get paid his rightful amount. They do charge a bit too much for a drink anyway. I'm sure they can afford to pay the rate for music, they are just trying to scam the industry. Let's not feel too sorry for Connolly's here. Shouldn't we all get paid fairly?
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Posted by IrishJets47 on Feb 05, 2010, 08:53 AM EST
Bad bad Bruce he a jew I guess he won't be at the St, Patrick Day Parade in Belmar NJ.
 


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