Yes, The Rolling Stones Are Suing Jersey Shore Bars

Lady Gaga was ”born this way;” Now she’s going to sue our way - with several New Jersey bars listed as defendants in a lawsuit that accuses them of copyright violation.

Broadcast Music Inc., which licenses songs from Lady Gaga and other artists, has accused several bars and restaurants in the Jersey Shore and other parts of the state of playing songs without permission, according to an Asbury Park Press account of a lawsuit that lists Lady Gaga’s music enterprise as a plaintiff.

As it does every year, BMI has sued bars and restaurants in New Jersey alleging copyright violations; last year, BMI took more than 160 businesses to court, saying they played one of the 8.5 million songs in its inventory, according to mycentraljersey.com.

BMI, on its website, offers rates as high as $357 for jukebox songs; $2.90 for every person listening to DJ songs; $5.85 per person for live music involving multiple singers; and $4.30 per person for single singers.

Last year, a federal judge ruled that Amici III Ristorante in Linden would have to pay $24,000 for songs BMI said the restaurant played, according to the mycentraljersey.com report.

The songs included the Rolling Stones’ “Brown Sugar” and Elton John’s “Bennie and the Jets.” Giovanni Lavorato, the restaurant’s owner, offered an unprintable response when asked about the litigation on Tuesday, according to the media reports.

The Asbury Park Press and mycentraljersey.com listed the lawsuits filed by BMI since last year, and identified the artists, songs and bars/restaurants targeted: Flip Flopz Beach Bar & Grill in North Wildwood, Bobby Dee’s Rock N Chair in Avalon, Chestnut Chateau in Union Township, Zeppelin Hall Restaurant & Biergarten in Jersey City and Green Knoll Grill in Bridgewater.

The songs include: “Honky Tonk Women” by the Rolling Stones, “Boxer” by Simon and Garfunkel, “Every Breath You Take” by the Police, “Billy Jean” by Michael Jackson and “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga, according to the reports.

Photo: “Rolling Stones 10” by Gorupdebesanez - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons