Bruce Springsteen Removes Name From ASCAP Lawsuit Against Bar

Posted on Feb 4th 2010 4:01PM by Emily Tan
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As Spinner previously reported, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, veteran rocker Bruce Springsteen and songwriter Clinton Ballard, Jr. filed a lawsuit against New York City bar Connolly's Pub and Restaurant on Wednesday for allowing a band to play Springsteen's music without paying the annual licensing fee.

While a representative from ASCAP has already spoke about the issue, Springsteen was actually unaware of the lawsuit. "In regards to the ASCAP lawsuit against Connolly's Pub and Restaurant, ASCAP was solely responsible for naming Bruce Springsteen as a plaintiff in the lawsuit," Springsteen's representatives said in a statement on Thursday. "Bruce Springsteen had no knowledge of this lawsuit, was not asked if he would participate as a named plaintiff and would not have agreed to do so if he had been asked. Upon learning of this lawsuit this morning, Bruce Springsteen's representatives demanded the immediate removal of his name from the lawsuit."

The Daily News reported that Connolly's allowed a band to play three Springsteen songs at the venue on last summer but were have failed to pay the annual licensing fee to the ASCAP. The bar and restaurant may face a $30,000 fine.