BMI and eight publishers sue the operator of The Lucky Nut in Nashville over five songs

The complaint

Broadcast Music, Inc. v. 701 Gallatin Pike Bar & Restuarant LLC, No. 3:26-cv-01689 (M.D. Tenn., Nashville Division), was filed October 23, 2026 and is assigned to Judge Aleta A. Trauger. The plaintiffs are Broadcast Music, Inc., as agent for Broadcast Music, LLC; 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, and its member Matthew Robb. The complaint is signed by Kenneth M. Bryant and also lists Tiffany B. Oliver, both of Burr & Forman, LLP in Nashville. It pleads jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. 1338(a) and venue under 28 U.S.C. 1400(a). The docket sets an initial case management conference before Judge Trauger for February 22, 2027.

What it alleges

The complaint says BMI licenses public performance rights in 22.4 million compositions and that the other plaintiffs own the copyrights at issue. It pleads matters other than those concerning the plaintiffs on information and belief. On that basis, it alleges that the LLC operates The Lucky Nut in Nashville, that its member is responsible for its operation and management, with the right and ability to supervise and a direct financial interest, and that the defendants publicly performed compositions from BMI's repertoire at the establishment without a license. It says BMI contacted the defendants more than 70 times since October 2025 by phone, mail and email, including cease and desist notices, and pleads five claims of willful copyright infringement. Exhibit A, the schedule that identifies the compositions, writers, registrations, and performance dates, is not publicly available.

Relief sought

The plaintiffs ask for an injunction under 17 U.S.C. 502, statutory damages under 17 U.S.C. 504(c), and costs and a reasonable attorney's fee under 17 U.S.C. 505.