R.E.M. orders Fox News to stop playing ‘Losing My Religion’ during DNC

[babylonsister]

R.E.M. orders Fox News to stop playing ‘Losing My Religion’ during DNC
By David Edwards
Friday, September 7, 2012 8:49 EDT


The American rock band R.E.M. on Thursday demanded that Fox News “cease and desist” using their song “Losing My Religion” during its coverage of the Democratic National Convention.

“R.E.M.’s ‘Losing My Religion’ was used in the Fox News coverage of the Democratic National Convention last night,” a statement on the R.E.M. HQ website said. “R.E.M. today, through its music publisher, Warner-Tamerlane Music, demanded that Fox News cease and desist from continuing its unlicensed and unauthorized use of the song.”

“We have little or no respect for their puff adder brand of reportage,” lead singer Michael Stipe said. “Our music does not belong there.”

And it’s not the first time the band’s frontman has taken on conservatives.

During a 2003 interview with NBC’s Katie Couric about the band’s song “Bad Day,” Stripe blasted conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, Republican strategist Karl Rove and then-President George W. Bush.

“It’s a bad–it’s a day for Limbaugh, isn’t it?” he asked Couric. “It’s a bad day for Schwarzenegger. It’s a bad day for Bush. It’s a bad day for Rove. It’s a good day for me.”

more...

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/09/07/r-e-m-orders-fox-news-to-stop-playing-losing-my-religion-during-dnc/

[Botany]

1. puff adder brand of reportage

[progressoid]

38. +1

[KurtNYC]

2. Songwriters should send cease and desists pro-actively to Fox and the GOP

Put them on notice that they are specifically prohibited from using ANY and ALL of your music EVER

Doing it after the fact is whack-a-mole.

[jberryhill]

3. Most of them do not own full rights to do that...

...and/or they are contracted with licensing organizations that offer package fees on licenses without the specific input or veto of the copyright owner.

[KharmaTrain]

4. I Kept Noticing The Music The DNC Was Playing...

The marvels of C-SPAN's coverage. Lots and lots of Motown and R & B (EWF & Staple Singers)...I'm sure all of the composers were fine with their music being used (especially Stevie Wonder)...along with a touch of U2, Bon Jovi and The Boss. Then there were the live performances with James Taylor, Mary J. Blige and the Foo Fighters. I'd love to see another Rock The Vote tour like they had in '04.

Meanwhile Bishop Willard can count on the musical support of Ted Nugent, the Oak Ridge Boys and assorted Osmonds.

I'm betting Dave Grohl didn't charge the DNC 500k to play...

[cynatnite]

12. Maybe they'll bring back the singing senators from the '96 repuke convention...

[KharmaTrain]

14. Who Could Resist This Great Hit:

Cheers...

[Spitfire of ATJ]

19. You might enjoy this tidbit...

After Ashcroft did that song coworkers at the Justice Department came up with alternate words:

Let his ego soar,
Our ears were made sore before.
Let Ashcroft boast, he is a bore.
Let his mighty ego soar.

Sore ears healing while he sings.
We can't stand to hear to these things.
Oh, dear God, more songs he brings.
Let his mighty ego soar.

John Ashcroft must be really high.
He must have a lot to prove.
He has tried this sh*t,
Look what he's put us through.

We're bored; he's made our spirits damp.
It's hard; sneak out the door.
If we boo, he'll have us fired,
So be patient a bit more.

John Ashcroft must be high.
You can see it in his eye.
Man, my ears are getting sore.

[calimary]

27. ROFL!!!!!!!

[FailureToCommunicate]

30. The interlude and intro music -mostly R&B - was a great addition. C-span rocked!*

* Never thought I'd be a saying that

[fugop]

5. Why Dems have such better music at our conventions ...

Republicans have ... Ted Nugent?

[12AngryBorneoWildmen]

16. Same with actors and comedians

Bo Derek, Chuck Norris and I honestly can't remember the name of Mr. Snark 'comedian', did Monday Night Football, Fox every thing, radio. Kevin Miller?

[blur256]

18. Dennis Miller

And I like to listen to the comedy radio station on my way to work, and every time they play something he has done I turn the channel. Cannot stand the man. He is not funny whatsoever. And there are some smart folks in Hollywood doing some great things. Luckily for us, the outnumber the unintelligent ones.

[Iliyah]

24. I've noticed that Miller as well as the other RW comedian are not funny

and the liberal ones are. Chris Rock in his tweet about Eastwood was just hilarious.

[calimary]

29. Welcome to DU!

I don't like dennis miller either. Judging from his ratings, not many others do either. He's nothing but an Also-Ran.

Glad you're here! We need you!






Now get to work.

[glinda]

6. Am sure Fox knew and doesn't care because it is all over now after the fact.

[AlbertCat]

7. I'm sure they haven't noticed....

.... but it's about losing faith in a lover and a love affair....

The Repugs never get past the title. A perfect illustration of how they think....or rather don't think. They never think things thru, which is why their ideas don't work and they sound so clueless.

[handmade34]

10. ...

you are correct... the Republicans (and Fox News) lack critical thinking skills

[Arugula Latte]

22. "Losing my religion" is also Southern-talk for flying off the handle or losing your temper.

[Diclotican]

32. AlbertCat

AlbertCat

It is like Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA, who most Republicans believe is about the greatness of USA.. In fact it is a critical song, where you need to use your brain to listen to what he tell you about..

But irony is not the best strait of conservatives - or by the republicans of today.. You tend t need some critical thinking to be able to understand subtle irony..

Diclotican

[lobodons]

8. GOP modus operandi

GOP modus operandi seems to be it is better to ask forgiveness than permission

[corkhead]

9. they wouldn't even do that - it would be an apology, and homey don't play that.

[cbdo2007]

11. They already have permission, why would they ask for it?

[proud2BlibKansan]

28. How do they have permission?

[cbdo2007]

31. all of their songs are available via the music publishers....

just like a radio station. As long as they company pays the applicable royalties, they can play any song they want as long as it is offered in the music catalog from the publishers, which most songs are.

Sure, there will be some exceptions but that is the reason this always happens around election time with these bands, is the campaigns are working as a company and just choose songs from the catalog to play. Typically the bands will speak up for two reasons, it gives them some free publicity and it gives them the opportunity to speak out against people they disagree with. I believe REM when they say they don't want their music played for political reasons, but Dee Snider a few weeks ago was just trying to get himself some free publicity.

[proud2BlibKansan]

37. And you're sure every campaign PLUS the party pays the fees?

I doubt it.

[cbdo2007]

39. Well considering the trouble they could get in and the bad publicity....

I'm pretty sure they watch it like a hawk.

Unlike the band at your local bar playing cover songs, the bar is supposed to pay royalties on all these songs as well and many of them don't do it, but they risk getting in major trouble for this as well.

[proud2BlibKansan]

40. I'm married to a musician

I doubt every campaign pays the fees.

[onenote]

42. I doubt any campaign pays for a blanket performance license

A band that plays songs written by others in a bar doesn't get its own license, it relies on the venue having obtained the blanket license. Its probably a safe assumption that the Tampa convention center has blanket licenses covering the performance of copyrighted songs within the venue. The issue typically isn't with the public performance right -- the issue typically arises where the music has been incorporated into a video presentation (which is not covered by the blanket licenses) and/or when the artist makes a claim based not of copyright but on "false light" -- the claim that the use of their music suggests and affiliation and support for the user that does not exist. That's a tricky case to make.

[X_Digger]

13. Dammit, now I've got that tune running around in my head. Thanks Fox! Arrgh!!! n/t

[cr8tvlde]

15. We've got James Taylor ... they've got Hank Williams, Jr.

Was Hank at the RNC?

[Erose999]

23. Junior was where we always is... at the bottom of a whiskey bottle. lol. I give him 2-3 years before

he has an OD or liver disease or a heart attack. Some kind of near-death medical situation caused by drugs and drink. He'll disappear for a while (long enough for the public to forget what a racist fucko he is) and then have a "comeback".

[IDemo]

17. Once again, folks

It is not due to negligence that the righties have made a habit of misappropriating music from progressive artists. They do it specifically because they know it will elicit the outrage by the Left that the cons feed on ravenously.

[Skittles]

20. LOVES ME SOME MICHAEL STIPE

WOOO!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

21. I've always hated that Rush uses "My City Was Gone"....

Considering it's about the decline of Ohio and the Rust Belt under Republicans.

[evilhime]

25. They need to sue

their asses! Unauthorized use, demands compensation and legal redress not to mention public apology IMO.

[proud2BlibKansan]

34. +1

[Politicalboi]

26. Good because REM SUCKS

[Avalux]

41. -1

[Blue Owl]

33. Brings to mind C-Lo Green on Colbert singing "Fox News" to the tune of "Fuck You"

n/t

[StarryNite]

36. The people that were watching on FAUX

already had decided how they were going to vote. So at least we know they didn't sway any votes with their "subliminable" message.