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<em>Wha</em>TF: BMI and ASCAP Sue Cafe Wha?

By

Jen Carlson

Published Mar 2, 2009

Modified Mar 2, 2009

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Photo by Wally G

 

By

Jen Carlson

Published Mar 2, 2009

Modified Mar 2, 2009

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Times they are a changin'. Cafe Wha?, the Macdougal Street club that put many legends (including Dylan, Springsteen, Hendrix, even Bill Cosby) on the map by giving them a start on their stage, is being sued for playing one of the musician's songs without a license. The Post is reporting that the venue is "named in a pair of copyright-infringement suits charging unlicensed performances of Billy Roberts' 'Hey Joe' and more than a dozen other hits." BMI and ASCAP (who busted Jay Z's 40/40 Club in 2007) are behind the suits, which could yield up to $30,000 per claim (of which there are 16 total). But should they turn a blind eye to the legendary club that's managed to keep its doors open in the now high-rent Greenwich Village?

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ascap

bmi

Cafe Wha

greenwich village

lawsuit

macdougal street

Jen Carlson

Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

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