![]() ![]() If it can be shown that such behavior undermines or devalues the brand of the original act, it can create a compelling case for legal action against the tribute act. In the legal world we call this personality rights or the “right of publicity”. Not only are the tribute acts performing the songs of the original act, they are trading off the name, brand, images and reputation of the original act. With tribute acts, however, more is at stake. So you can cover any song or series of songs you like onstage, and the venues and PROs will sort out who should be compensated. In theory, every time a song is covered in a live performance, the original writers of that song get paid. ![]() Tribute Actsįrom a legal standpoint, any band can cover a song during a live performance, as a result of blanket licenses obtained and paid for by venue owners to performance rights organizations (PROs) such as SOCAN in Canada and ASCAP or BMI in the United States. I actually can’t tell if this is a tribute or the real thing. However, the current legislation in this area fails to adequately address the issue, and as such, a grey area has been created that has been left to the courts to decide. Technically, most tribute acts are in fact in violation of the rights belonging to the original act, to some degree. So, the question remains: are tribute acts actually legal? These numbers would of course vary greatly depending on the act in question, but they do indicate the magnitude of the market. One study found that cover bands make, on average, $500 per night per member, while a successful tribute act can gross over $10,000 a night during peak season. ![]() They must really slay ‘Got You By the Balls’ (Metallica), Almost KISS (KISS), Hotel California (the f*ing Eagles man) and more continue to draw massive audiences around the world. Acts such as Arrival from Sweden (ABBA), Brit Floyd (Pink Floyd), The Fab Four (the Beatles), Damage Inc. Indeed, in 2019, some of the highest grossing acts in North America are tribute acts, many of which can fill the largest venues here and around the world. And based on the ticket prices to some of these shows, tribute acts are big business. These men are just really high.Įvery time I open the newspaper and peruse the local gig listings in my city, I’m struck by something: tribute acts are in high demand! More often than not, there are more tribute acts on the calendar than original acts. ![]()
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