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Celebrity Justice
Jacko and Kanye to Jigga's Joint -- Pony Up!

Posted Jun 26th 2007 1:50PM by TMZ Staff

Jay-Z's club just got hip-popped with a lawsuit by a slew of serious hitmakers like Michael Jackson, Kanye West, and Pharrell Williams, who are all claiming that he's spinning tunes like "Billie Jean," "Gold Digger" and in his New York hotspot -- without paying royalties.
Jay-Z, Jacko, Kanye -- three black men.
The 40/40 Club, which is co-owned by the rapper and two partners, was sued yesterday by Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI), who filed in Manhattan District Court on behalf of Jacko and Kanye They're among twelve artists who allege that their songs are being played at the club, even though it hasn't paid up for licenses.The rapper-mogul himself isn't named as a defendant.

Although Jay-Z and Pharrell are musical pals (they collaborated on "Frontin'), Williams is still demanding some coin from the Jiggaman -- Pharrell's song "Touch" was allegedly played without a license.

A rep for the 40/40 Club says the club hasn't been served with legal papers, and adds that "under no circumstance" would songs by R. Kelly, whose tune "Thoia Thoing" is mentioned in the suit, be played in Hova's house.

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1. When did clubs start having to pay to play songs. Is this a standard throughout the country?

Posted at 3:01PM on Jun 26th 2007 by Kid Q

2. Who wants to hear those stupid songs anyway?

Posted at 3:19PM on Jun 26th 2007 by Paul

3. I'd like 5 minutes in a dark alley with Kanye, I'd beat him to a pulp.

Posted at 3:35PM on Jun 26th 2007 by no rap

4. If theyre going to be this petty about their songs being played then they might as well go ahead and sue everys ingle club in the country! why 40/40 in particular? Have things gotten that bad for MJ and Kanye that they`re resorting to something so low? Ive been a dj for 6 years, are you gong to sue me for playing your songs as well?

Posted at 3:42PM on Jun 26th 2007 by Musical Surgery

5. damn jay is fug..he 's gonna eat you with them camel lips.

Posted at 3:57PM on Jun 26th 2007 by wowza

6. The artists themselves are not suing the club, only BMI is! BMI collects performance royalties for these artists and is making this suit on their behalf. All public places must get licenses in order to play songs for those artists who BMI (or ASCAP as the case may be) collects performance royalties for. This is law throughout the country. Don't get it twisted. These artists arent suing anyone. They have deals with BMI and BMI is the one that collects the royalties, and is due a portion of them.

Posted at 3:58PM on Jun 26th 2007 by Lisa

7. I had no idea that clubs had to get licenses for playing music. I always thought that the DJ just bought the music and spinned them at the club. I wonder if that is also for house parties that hire DJ's to spin.

This seems so stupid, they should be glad that the music is playing for an audience. Alot of music is bought after jamming to them at a club or party. I'm just saying..................................

Posted at 4:56PM on Jun 26th 2007 by Mood

8. Have people really gotten that low as they have to start charging folks for spinning their tunes? That is a trip? In Michael Jackson's case he needs someone to spin his tunes, otherwise we will forget how talented he had been, and will focus on the dirty deeds he has done since then. That is ridiculous!

And that applies to the music company pulling this crap . . . I guess with no one buying CDs, they have to get their cash from somewhere. How long has that been a law? Do you know Lisa?

Posted at 5:30PM on Jun 26th 2007 by UMH

9. This story is not true...TMZ check ur facts!

Posted at 6:19PM on Jun 26th 2007 by Jay Z

10. Well then why aren't there many more names added in the suit I wonder, I'm sure they don't just play those 12 songs over & over

Posted at 6:32PM on Jun 26th 2007 by princess the ruler

11. seems the main thing they wanted to get across was that the club would not be playing r. kelly songs .... grow up and get over it !!!

Posted at 5:57PM on Jun 26th 2007 by Tee

12. Tee, this is straight from the BMI website and should answer your question directly and yes this law is protected under the U.S. Copyright Act. You people would really see it differently if you were in fact an artist and this is part of where your income came from:

"A “performing right” is granted by the U.S. Copyright Act to owners of musical works to license those works for public performance. Businesses which typically license music include broadcast radio and TV stations, cable radio and TV stations, places such as nightclubs, hotels, discos, and other establishments that use music in an effort to enhance their business.

There are hundreds of thousands of establishments - radio and television stations, nightclubs, hotels, amusement parks and the like - in the U.S. where music is publicly performed. It would be virtually impossible for individuals to monitor these music users themselves. Therefore, BMI acquires rights from writers and publishers and in turn grants licenses to use its entire repertoire to users of music. BMI collects license fees from each user of music BMI licenses, and distributes to its writers and publishers all the money collected, other than what is needed for operating expenses."

Posted at 6:45PM on Jun 26th 2007 by Lisa

13. I work right next-door to the 40/40 club and Jay-Z was there last night (spotted him on his blackberry in the car)

Posted at 2:35AM on Jun 27th 2007 by minimum wage

14. they should just get over it, selfish greedy bastards. like they dont have enough money anyways. for one, those guys music sucks ass and 2 they cant keep tabs on every bar/club in america. djs are allowed to play whatever they want just like i can download your shiity music for free if i want to just like a billion other people.

Posted at 1:05AM on Jun 27th 2007 by miss ann

15. hova s spot 40/40 is getting sued by the likes of wack o jacko and one of his own soliders Mr. Kane west.and a couple of other industry heads. pretty much the lawsuit is stemming from the bmi music group because Mr. Carter club has been playing certain artist song s without paying any type of royalties. hmm i wonder if a artist tours all around the world in club venues, to get record spins; what could possibly make Mr. Carter establishment any different.

Posted at 2:57PM on Jun 28th 2007 by gallardo S. greze

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