So sorry that we haven’t been in touch lately. Things have been a little…chaotic lately…In a good way! Needless to say we will have TONS of great stuff to tell you all soon enough. For more up-to-the-minute I am the Heat news, check us out of Facebook.
We had a “strategy meeting” this weekend. Seems so businessy. There’s a lot going on in I am the Heat land these days. Details to come!
We joined ASCAP a few months ago when we got a small CSI licensing deal. Months go by with no word from them and now, a few days before we’re supposed to play a show, we get a call from [let's call them the promoter for simplicity's sake] saying the venue wants us off the bill. Why? Because ASCAP called and threatened the venue for not having an ASCAP license.
Here’s how I understand it. According to federal law all commercial establishments (venues, bars, clubs, etc) need to pay to use copyrighted material. Ok, I agree with this in principle. So how does I am the Heat factor into this? WE DON’T. After spending half a day trying to get in touch with someone in the ASCAP licensing department (615-742-5000, ask for the “licensing department”), I was informed that in NO WAY does I am the Heat playing a non-ASCAP-licensed venue amount to ANY risk on the venue’s part. This is because we play original material, to which we own the rights.
When asked if there was any way we could still play the show, ASCAP answered that WE could pay the licensing fee instead of the venue. Beyond being incredibly fucked up, this also made no sense…unless they meant that WE’D have to pay a fee to ASCAP to allow the VENUE to play ASCAP music, which (again) has nothing to do with I am the Heat playing the show.
So why were we kicked off the bill? My best guess is that ASCAP saw that one of their artists was playing the show and tried to use that to leverage the venue into paying their annual fee. It would appear that ASCAP is misleading the venue and using it’s members (us) to sell their product. LAME.
So how has ASCAP helped us, the struggling artist? THEY HAVEN’T (so far). Worse yet, they cost us a show we were very excited about. Thank you, ASCAP.
UPDATE (7/10/09): I spoke with a friend of a friend at ASCAP who cleared things up a bit. He confirmed some of my suspicions about our ASCAP membership playing no role in this. Neither the venue nor I am the Heat need as ASCAP license in order to have us perform our songs. It is still unclear whether or not this was all a coincidence. I never heard back from the venue so I don’t know exactly what transpired between ASCAP and the venue owner.
- Jameson / I am the Heat
Less than a month until our Ghost Bear video is released! We. Are. STOKED!!! Here’s the deal with the release party. It’s on Thursday, July 2nd (mark your calendars), it’s at MONKEY TOWN and it’s FREE…our gift to you for being awesome.
The party starts promptly at 10pm, with a set by the beautiful and talented Hype of the States. We’re on second, and somewhere in between we’ll air the video. Expect mayhem, excitement and ridiculous times, along with limited edition Ghost Bear t-shirts and THREE new songs, which we’re very exited to debut.
There will be a pre-party for those of you who can’t wait until 10pm. It’ll be at a bar nearby around 9pm (details to come).
Thursday, July 2nd at Monkey Town!
58 N 3rd. st. (btw Wythe and Kent)
Williamsburg, New York 11211
9pm - 10pm: PRE-PARTY at a nearby bar (TBD)
10pm SHARP: show at Monkey Town
Bands:
I am the Heat
Hype of the States (http://www.myspace.com/hypeofthestates)
Check the website regularly for updates: http://www.iamtheheat.com/ghostbear
xoxo,
I am the Heat
http://www.myspace.com/iamtheheat
http://www.iamtheheat.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-Am-The-Heat/31277958910
http://www.last.fm/music/I+am+the+Heat
http://twitter.com/iamtheheat
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=306263896&s=143441 (iTunes)
http://cdbaby.com/cd/iamtheheat2
Greetings all,
We’re very excited to announce that the song “Hollywood” from our CD Naked will be played in this Thursday’s episode of CSI. The episode airs on CBS this Thursday, April 30, at 9:00 pm EST. Its Episode #922, The Gone Dead Train. The song plays at some point during the second half hour of the show. Apparently the scene takes place in a tattoo shop…NICE!
This happened very fast and that’s all we know. We don’t know how much of the track will be used, but watch the episode! Then call CBS and tell them you loved “that song in the tattoo scene”!
For those in NYC we’re organizing a last-minute, informal viewing party. Details TBD.
xoxo,
I am the Heat
I AM THE HEAT now has a youtube profile, http://www.youtube.com/user/iamtheheat
We have 4 videos from our performance at Public Assembly in Williamsburg. All the videos were shot by Steven Spencer.
Dear friends,
I am the Heat has a new live video for a new song (Cameras) performed at Kilkenny’s in New Jersey. The show was a blast and was our first out of town show in a while. Check out the video and come see us next weekend at Public Assembly!
xoxo,
I am the Heat
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