The Fraternal Order of Eagles club in Plattsmouth says a demand for yearly music licensing fees is out of tune for the club’s entertainment lineup.

ASCAP collects fees for song writers and publishers. It’s sent the Plattsmouth Eagles several notices that the non profit organization owes $3,100 annually for live bands and karaoke at the club.

Eagle’s Club Aerie Justin Craig says, “The dollar signs and how they arrived at them and how they expect to get that out of a private organization, I don’t understand it.”

An area manager for ASCAP gave club leaders a copy of the contract but wouldn’t comment with Six On Your Side in the room, so he left.

However a national spokesperson for ASCAP says 86% of the money collected goes to song writers and publishers. The fees are based on music types like bands and recordings plus size and occupancy of the venue.

The ASCAP spokesperson says a lawsuit is used as a last resort.

The Plattsmouth Eagle Club Aerie Craig says, “There’s nothing we would do. We wouldn’t pay it. We’d just stop our music.”

The National Eagle office has advised the Plattsmouth club to ignore the ASCAP demand for fees.

A past president Bill Loffer tells Six On Your Side he believes non profit organizations are exempt from the music licensing fees.