Seven of BMI's public performance copyright suits against establishment operators, filed in seven federal courts from September to November 2026

What the complaints plead

Each of the seven complaints is brought by Broadcast Music, Inc., as agent for Broadcast Music, LLC, together with music publishers, and pleads jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. 1338(a) and venue under 28 U.S.C. 1400(a). Each says BMI has been granted the right to license the public performance rights in 22.4 million copyrighted musical compositions and that the publisher plaintiffs own the copyrights in the compositions at issue. Six of the complaints (all but the Maryland complaint) state that their allegations are made on knowledge as to the plaintiffs and otherwise on information and belief. Each of the seven alleges, in those six on that basis, that the defendants operate an establishment or are responsible for its operation and management, that compositions from the BMI repertoire were publicly performed there without a license, and that BMI reached out to the defendants many times by phone, mail, and email, including with cease and desist notices. Each pleads claims of willful copyright infringement tied to compositions listed in a schedule attached to the complaint, and each seeks an injunction under 17 U.S.C. 502, statutory damages under 17 U.S.C. 504(c), and costs, including a reasonable attorney's fee, under 17 U.S.C. 505.

The seven suits

Broadcast Music, Inc. v. Fun Scotty Enterprises, LLC d/b/a Murphy's Corner KC, No. 2:26-cv-02539-TC-ADM (D. Kan.), filed September 9, 2026. The publisher plaintiffs are Evil Eye Music, Inc. and Sony/ATV Songs LLC, in its own name and doing business as Sony/ATV Tree Publishing and Sony/ATV Acuff Rose Music. The defendants are Fun Scotty Enterprises, LLC, a Kansas company alleged, on information and belief, to operate Murphy's Corner KC in Lenexa, Kansas, and its member Scott Lang. The complaint pleads five claims and alleges BMI contacted the defendants more than 60 times since January 2025. A docket entry on September 10, 2026 assigned the case to District Judge Toby Crouse and Magistrate Judge Angel D. Mitchell. The latest docket entries are praecipes filed October 12, 2026 and a summons entry dated October 13, 2026.

Broadcast Music, Inc. et al. v. The Garden Rooftop, LLC d/b/a Garden Rooftop and Alexander Wolde, No. 1:26-cv-03675 (D. Md., Northern Division), filed September 17, 2026. The publisher plaintiffs are Linseyanne Music Co., Inc., The Music Force, EMI Consortium Songs, Inc. d/b/a EMI Longitude Music, Hip City Music Inc., Hifrost Publishing, Ghostown Thang Music, EMI Blackwood Music Inc., Ground Control Music, and Carl Mo Music. The defendants are The Garden Rooftop, LLC, alleged to operate the Garden Rooftop establishment in Baltimore, and Alexander Wolde, alleged to be a member, owner, or operator of the company. The complaint pleads three claims and alleges BMI contacted the defendants more than 30 times since June 2025. The latest docket entries, both dated September 18, 2026, are summonses issued to both defendants and the clerk's report on the filing to the Copyright Office.

Broadcast Music, Inc. et al. v. Tahereh Kianpour d/b/a Tequilas Bar and Lounge, No. 5:26-cv-06289 (W.D. Tex., San Antonio Division), filed September 29, 2026. The publisher plaintiffs are WordWorksMusic; Sangerdee Music; Sony/ATV Songs LLC d/b/a Sony/ATV Acuff Rose Music; Sony/ATV Latin Music Publishing, LLC; Betito Music Publishing; and EMI Consortium Songs Inc. d/b/a EMI Longitude Music. The defendant, Tahereh Kianpour, is alleged, on information and belief, to operate and control Tequilas Bar and Lounge in San Antonio and to have a direct financial interest in it. The complaint pleads five claims and alleges BMI contacted the defendant more than 50 times since April 2024. A summons issued October 1, 2026, an order reassigning the case was entered October 22, 2026, and the court entered two further orders on October 30, 2026. (ECF Nos. 6 to 9.)

Broadcast Music, Inc. v. 701 Gallatin Pike Bar & Restuarant LLC, No. 3:26-cv-01689 (M.D. Tenn., Nashville Division), filed October 23, 2026 and assigned to Judge Aleta A. Trauger. The publisher plaintiffs are EMI Blackwood Music Inc.; All Clear Music LLC, doing business as Sheltered At Home Music; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.; Average Joe's Entertainment Group LLC, doing business as Average Zjs Music Publishing; Indiana Angel Music; Showbilly Music; Mow B'Jow Music Inc.; and Sony/ATV Songs LLC. The defendants are 701 Gallatin Pike Bar & Restuarant LLC, doing business as The Lucky Nut, alleged, on information and belief, to operate The Lucky Nut in Nashville, and its member Matthew Robb. The complaint pleads five claims and alleges BMI contacted the defendants more than 70 times since October 2025. Summonses issued October 23, 2026, and the docket sets an initial case management conference before Judge Trauger for February 22, 2027.

Broadcast Music, Inc. v. Small Town Daiquiris, LLC, No. 3:26-cv-01206 (M.D. La.), filed October 23, 2026 and assigned to Judge John W. deGravelles. The publisher plaintiffs are Sony/ATV Songs LLC, doing business as Sony/ATV Tree Publishing; Post Oak Publishing; EMI Blackwood Music Inc.; and All Clear Music LLC, doing business as Sheltered At Home Music. The defendants are Small Town Daiquiris, LLC, alleged, on information and belief, to operate Small Town Daiquiris in Clinton, Louisiana, and its members Dana J. Tucker and Stacey Lawrence. The complaint pleads four claims, each with a performance date of August 14, 2026, for Here's A Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares), I Think I'll Just Stay Here And Drink, Mama Tried, and Goodbye Earl, and alleges BMI contacted the defendants more than 40 times since July 2025. The latest docket entry is a 90 day conference order (telephone), entered October 27, 2026. (ECF No. 7.)

Broadcast Music, Inc. v. Nicholson's Pub, LLC d/b/a Nicholson's, No. 1:26-cv-01152 (S.D. Ohio, Western Division), filed November 9, 2026. The publisher plaintiffs are Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.; Sony/ATV Songs LLC d/b/a Sony/ATV Tree Publishing; Beechwood Music Corporation; and Little Maestro Music, a sole proprietorship. The defendants are Nicholson's Pub, LLC, an Ohio company alleged, on information and belief, to operate an establishment known as Nicholson's in Cincinnati, Ohio, and its member Wallace N. Sanders. The complaint pleads five claims and alleges BMI contacted the defendants over 150 times since September 2023. Summonses issued November 10, 2026, and the clerk entered a notice the same day that if all parties consent, a United States magistrate judge may conduct all proceedings.

Broadcast Music, Inc. v. Kinnett's Anchor Inn, Inc. d/b/a Anchor, No. 3:26-cv-01111-wmc (W.D. Wis.), filed November 13, 2026. The publisher plaintiffs are Showbilly Music, a sole proprietorship; Screen Gems-EMI Music, Inc.; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.; and EMI Blackwood Music, Inc. The defendants are Kinnett's Anchor Inn, Inc., a Wisconsin corporation alleged, on information and belief, to operate an establishment known as Anchor in Edgerton, Wisconsin, and John Fitzgerald Kinnett, alleged, on information and belief, to be a member of the company. The complaint pleads four claims and alleges BMI contacted the defendants over 120 times since January 2025. A docket entry on November 13, 2026 randomly assigned the case to District Judge William M. Conley and Magistrate Judge Anita Marie Boor.

Other BMI suits

Broadcast Music, Inc. and music publishers have filed other copyright suits in 2026, including No. 6:26-cv-05294 (D.S.C.), No. 5:26-cv-06982 (W.D. Tex.), and No. 4:26-cv-00265 (S.D. Ind.).