SIOUX FALLS (AP) -- One of the nation's largest music licensing agencies has sued a downtown Sioux Falls bar for allegedly playing pop songs for its customers without paying the licensing fee.
Broadcast Music International is among 13 plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed in federal court against TNT Entertainment, the parent company of Wiley's Tavern, and three managers with the company.
The Argus Leader reports that BMI says the tavern played six songs owned by BMI-represented artists, but never paid the licensing fee. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages and attorney's fees from TNT Entertainment and an order that the bar refrain from playing BMI music without a license.
The newspaper reports that a retail establishment that plays copyrighted music for customers is required to obtain permission from the composer.
