BBC Drops Music From Neil Young, The Doors

BBC Radio stations have stopped playing some of the greatest artists ever, including Neil Young and The Doors, it’s because they have been banned due to licensing agreements.

The BBC's legal department made the ban official due to those acts, among others, withdrawing from the Mechanical Copyright Protection Society, making it  it impossible for the BBC to properly compensate Neil Young or The Doors estates whenever their music is played or even covered.

According to the official email, the ban applies not only to playing their songs, but any use of the songs as bump music, in the background, or even the mention of any of their lyrics.

According to deathandtaxes.com, both The Doors and Neil Young withdrew from the MCPS more than a decade ago, and they are apparently represented by another licensing body, Wixen UK. Bonnie Raitt and Journey are also represented by Wixen, and have also been banned from The BBC.  So it would appear the dispute actually resides between the BBC and Wizen UK making MCPS withdrawal a smoke and mirrors tactic.

Meanwhile, Neil Young is pulling his music catalog from all steaming services, effective immediately.

“It’s about sound quality,” the post said. “I don’t need my music to be devalued by the worst quality in the history of broadcasting or any other form of distribution. I don’t feel right allowing this to be sold to my fans. It’s bad for my music.”