Up here in Canuklehead land, we've got SOCAN.
Basically a society set up by has-been performers, receiving government funding to "collect" fees for music played, those fees, supposedly being distributed to the artists & writers.
Problem is, as an example, a Dentist's office, can't play, let's say, an Elton John cd, without paying fees to SOCAN.

I spoke with someone from the SOCAN office quite a while back when this sh*t hit the fan.

I questioned where the fees collected would be going to. "To SOCAN members", I was told.

Be assured, Elton John is not a member of SOCAN, so any monies paid by the dentist's office, are not going to be heading Elton's way, rather, these fees being collected are supposedly being distributed to SOCAN members, many of which, particularly out on the west coast, are shrubs, writing songs about clouds, and driftwood. Songs that are never gonna get air play. Songs that nobody (except the writer and people tied to trees with flowers in their hair) would listen to.

We did a gig once at a local Yacht Club. The venue was given a fee choice by SOCAN. $29 if there was no dancing. $58 if there was dancing. Go figure that one out.

The yacht club paid the fee, along with a submission of a matching "administation" fee by the yacht club.

I agree the advancement of the internet has made music more readily available to everyone.

If artists want to make money with their music, they must be prepared to get out and promote it, by way of concerts, etc.
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/...b9-95256c613824

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...shboom