The McCain campaign is claiming they paid the appropriate fees:
"The McCain campaign respects intellectual-property rights," Brian Rogers, a campaign spokesman said. "Accordingly, prior to using `Barracuda' at any events, we paid for and obtained all necessary licenses."
So, they respect intellectual-property rights, huh? Considering that they've had their dicks knocked in the dirt over this very same issue repeatedly during their campaign, I'm guessing they're completely full of crap on that whole respect thing. Well, I'm not guessing, but you already knew that. If it turns out that McCain and Co. paid a blanket fee for public performance, the artist may still rescind/stop the use of said material. The fact that they've repeatedly used songs w/out clearing them with the artists first, is another sign that they don't care about intellectual-property rights.
Here's a shortlist of folks who've asked them to stop using their work:
Van Halen
Jackson Browne
John Mellencamp
ABBA
Frankie Valli
Surely the GOP should be able to find somebody, somewhere who's ready, willing and able to provide tuneage which would blunt the steady parade of bad publicity that's so far resulted from them not doing their homework about the artists and songs in question.
Somewhere in my soul, there's always Rock -n- Roll... Joe Strummer
I understand that the Dixie Chicks are available...hmmm, probably not a good choice when you think about it.
It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine
The fact that they've repeatedly used songs w/out clearing them with the artists first
...is entirely irrelevant. Musical artists sign up with one of two big copyright licensing firms, ASCAP or BMI, for the sole purpose of not needing to deal with every request to use their recordings for a fee. Those licensing agencies are granted all the legal rights necessary to act as agents on the artists' behalf, save in cases where an artist has explicitly issued direction otherwise. Not surprisingly, ASCAP and BMI are rather promiscuous with their licensing agreements; their job is to provide the artists with money for something the artist did years ago. They are not in the business of turning away ready cash.
In this case, Heart got all pissy and actually issued direction -- after the contract was signed and and performance was broadcast. In other words, too late.
Oddly enough, I don't see Heart stating that ASCAP should return the fee. Nor have I seen any stories (and there would be some) about Van Halen, Mellencamp, et al. issuing blanket orders to their licensing agency to refuse any and all requests from conservative politicians and affiliates. There's a reason for this: musicians are whores. They are thrilled to take the money of anyone who wants to use their music. It means they can continue not getting real jobs after their careers have diminished to playing the state fair and polkafest circuit.
Being celebrities, however faded, they also want to publicly shoot their mouths off about their opinions. Fair enough, that's their right as Americans. But don't go ranting about how unfair it is the this politician or that cause is using their music without asking until you've followed the money -- right into the artist's back pocket.
I can't help it, that's the immediate reaction I got from what you wrote here. You are appallingly stupid.
Following up on the that: If the McCain/Palin campaign really wanted to be dicks, they could hire some musician to write a song which sampled riffs from "Barracuda." Sampling invokes a compulsory license, and the sampled artist can't even issue orders preventing it so long as the checks clear.
They still have Ted Nugent.
