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knowledge and information about this entire area, and we appreciate it very much. Mr. Epperson.

Mr. EPPERSON. Mr. Berenson raised the question about-which I think I need to clarify just for the record. The church service on broadcast which is paid for by a sponsor, I think I can quite agree with him that that should be a fee paid on music like that. However, I disagree about the savings we get on the present per program license. Because on a per song basis, we're paying three to four times and as much as 10 times as much as-the all music stations pay for their music. So, that's grossly unfair. Thank you very much.

Chair MEYERS. I thank you very much. This hearing-I would like to keep the record open without objection for 10 days, and this hearing is concluded. Thank you.

[Whereupon, at 12:40 p.m., the hearing was adjourned, subject to the call of the Chair.]

APPENDIX

STATEMENT OF REP. JAN MEYERS (R-KS)
CHAIR

COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS

MAY 8, 1996

"Music Licensing and Small Business"

Today's hearing is our second in a series of hearings looking at

intellectual property issues of importance to small business. The issues surrounding music licensing practices of the performing rights societies (ASCAP, BMI and SESAC) has long been a major concern for small businesses in the entertainment and retailing industries. The background music that we all hear when we are out at a favorite restaurant, a local bar or a retail store is something that many people don't really think that much about. Today's hearing will change all that, because how music is licensed, who pays for it, and how many times it is paid for is going to surprise many of us.

As many of you know, music licensing under the copyright laws and the antitrust consent decrees in effect with respect to ASCAP and BMI are issues that are within the legislative jurisdiction of the Committee on the Judiciary. However, the Committee on Small Business has a rich tradition of holding oversight hearings on issues of importance to small business. In fact, in 1957

(during the 85th Congress) a subcommittee of the Permanent Select Committee

on Small Business of the U.S. House of Representatives held five days of

investigative hearings on the practices of ASCAP. The record of those hearings covered over 700 printed pages; and, as a result of those hearings, Members of the Committee met in executive session with representatives of the Department of Justice, who took the matters presented at the subcommittee hearings under consideration in their continuing enforcement of the 1950 Consent Decree against ASCAP.

Today, this issue of music licensing remains critical to many small businesses. For example, 92% of NFIB's members have demanded music licensing reform legislation and are firmly behind H.R. 789, the Fairness in Musical Licensing Act. This legislation was introduced by my colleague and friend, Jim Sensenbrenner, and I am proud to be a cosponsor. I have asked Mr. Sensenbrenner to join us on the Committee today and take part in our

proceedings.

Despite my own strong sentiments in favor of H.R. 789, today's panel of witnesses were carefully selected in an effort to present a balanced view of the competing interests in this area of music licensing.

Mr. Rule is a respected member of the antitrust bar and a partner with

the Washington, DC law firm of Covington & Burling. He is a former

Assistant Attorney General who was in charge of the Antitrust Division at the

Department of Justice during the final years of President Reagan's second

term.

Mr. Barba is a hotelier from New Hampshire, and, I believe, a

constituent of Mr. Zeliff's.

Mr. Alger is a songwriter from Nashville and a member of ASCAP.

Mr. Epperson is Vice-Chairman of the National Religious Broadcasters and is here with us today from North Carolina.

Mr. Berenson is with us today on behalf of BMI where he is the Senior Vice President and General Counsel.

Mr. Tavenner is with us today from just up the road in Olney,

Maryland. He runs a restaurant named the Silo Inn and is appearing today on

behalf of the National Restaurant Association.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS

FULL COMMITTEE HEARING ON MUSIC LICENSING AND SMALL BUSINESS

Opening Statement of Glenn Poshard

May 8, 1995

Madame Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to address the issue of music licensing and its affect on our nation's small businesses.

The introduction of H.R. 789, The Fairness in Musical Licensing Act of 1995, at the beginning of the 104th Congress has opened a flood gate of concerns from a number of my constituents on both sides of this issue. In my district, I have small business owners claiming unfair practices by licensing agencies, while songwriters have come to me concerning their critical need to be fairly and appropriately compensated for their time and talent.

It is also my understanding that all the parties involved in this debate have been involved in serious negations for the past year in an attempt to resolve this matter without major changes to the current copyright laws. I ask that we look closely at this agreement and evaluate its merits.

Madame Chairman, I also wish to welcome our distinguished panel of speakers whom I am sure will inform and enlighten the members of our Committee as to the concerns on both sides of this issue.

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