Buster's busted in royalty dispute

By Dan Nienaber
Free Press Staff Writer

MANKATO May 13, 2008 06:00 pm

— Matt Little doubts Barry Gibb, Rick Springfield or Brett Michaels even know Buster’s Bar exists, much less that they’re among a list of famous songwriters who have been awarded $40,000 in damages from the Mankato business.
Including attorney’s fees, Little owes $43,154 to Broadcast Music Inc. for failing to pay licensing fees for the copyrighted music that live cover bands were performing at the bar between 2005 and 2007. They included tunes by the BeeGees and Poison, which is why Gibb and Michaels were among several musicians named in the suit.
The Buster’s owner said he’s attempting to work with BMI to reduce the amount he owes, even though the amount was set through a default judgment because Little never responded to the federal lawsuit. Similar lawsuits were filed by BMI against three other bars in Minnesota last year. The other bars were in the Twin Cities area.
“In my head, I didn’t do anything wrong,” Little said. “It’s not like (the musicians) even know about the bar or get any of the money. I’d like to see what BMI actually pays the bands.”

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